Prescription penalty chaos not what the doc ordered
UNIVERSAL CREDIT CLAIMANTS FINED DUE TO ADMIN HAVOC
UNIVERSAL Credit claimants face a nightmare when they collect prescriptions, an MP has warned.
Many will be eligible for free prescriptions but they have to fill in a form revealing which benefits they receive – and there is no box for Universal Credit to tick. Only the older benefits are listed on the form.
Chi Onwurah is demanding the Government take action – and she said she first raised the issue three years ago.
The Labour MP for Newcastle Central said: “For over three years now I have received complaints from constituents claiming Universal Credit who are being sent penalty notices with fines of £100 for prescription charges, because the Department of Work and Pensions isn’t joined up with NHS over Universal Credit.
“There is no way of indicating on the form that someone is in receipt of Universal Credit and consequently no check on eligibility for free prescriptions.
“Either someone pays for a prescription when they shouldn’t, or they tick the wrong box, and are penalised. So the already struggling and often ill Universal Credit claimant is being further undermined by unnecessary debt.”
Some claimants are advised to tick a box saying they receive a different benefit, such as Jobseeker’s Allowance.
But they receive different advice from said.
Claimants are understandably nervous about filling in a form incorrectly. Some have also been penalised for ticking the wrong box.
And to make the system even more complicated, not every Universal Credit claimant is eligible for a free prescription.
Government officials highlighted an answer provided by Health Minister Steve Brine when the issue was raised by an MP.
He said: “Work is ongoing to update the FP10 prescription form to include a new exemption tick box for use by Universal Credit claimants who meet the criteria for free National Health Service prescriptions.” different places, Ms Onwurah