Help with health costs

Although NHS health care is free, there are charges for things like prescriptions, reading glasses and the dentist, so it’s worth knowing if you’re eligible for financial help with these costs.

If you’re on a low income, receive certain benefits or you’re over 60 you could receive free or discounted:

• Prescriptions
• Dental costs
• Sight tests, glasses and contact lenses
• Travel costs for NHS treatment
• Wigs and fabric supports

How much financial support can you receive?

If you receive one of the following means-tested benefits you may get all your health costs paid in full:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit – Guarantee Pension Credit
• Tax Credits if you have an NHS exemption certificate
• Universal Credit and meet the criteria

If you are aged 60 or over, you are eligible for free prescriptions and free eye tests regardless of your income.

If you are on a low income, you could be eligible to receive full or partial help for your healthcare costs, depending on how much you earn.

Find out more about the various NHS costs and eligibility for financial help to pay these. 

Do you need a lot of prescriptions?

If you need a lot of prescriptions but cannot get free ones, you can reduce the cost by buying a pre-payment certificate. You can buy a three-month or a 12-month certificate to cover all your prescriptions for that period no matter how many you need.

A three-month certificate costs £30.25 and a 12-month certificate costs £108.10 (this can be paid in 10 monthly instalments of £10.81 by Direct Debit).

Help and advice

If you’re struggling to make ends meet or worried about debt, you can talk to our Welfare Rights & Money Advice Team in confidence.