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Some people may be entitled to help with the cost of HS prescriptions because of age, medical condition or because they or their partner get Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance (Income based).
People on a low income, including people on Working Tax Credit may be entitled to get help.
The following are entitled to free prescriptions:
(1)people 60 years of age or over;
(2)children under age 16;
(3)young people aged 17 and 18 in full time education;
(4)people, or their partner, in receipt of:
(5)people over age 16 who hold a current HS Low Income Scheme Full Help Certificate (HC2) and their partners;
(6)expectant mothers and women who have given birth to a live child or a child registerable as still born within the past 12 months and who hold an exemption certificate issued by the Central Services Agency;
(7)people suffering from one of the specified medical conditions listed in leaflet HC11 and who hold an exemption certificate issued by the Central Services Agency;
(8)war or service disablement pensioners for prescriptions needed to treat their accepted disability; and
(9)people receiving free prescribed contraceptives.
If you are a person described in categories 1, 2, 3, 4 and 9 you are automatically exempt from charges and need only provide evidence of entitlement and complete the declaration on the back of the prescription form.
If you fall into category 5 you must first complete a claim form HC1 and send it to your local Social Security or Jobs & Benefits office to obtain a HC2 certificate.
If you are a person in categories 6, 7 and 8 you must first obtain an exemption certificate and produce it when completing the declaration on the back of the prescription form.
Normally you will not have to pay for the prescription if you are exempted. If an exempted person pays for a prescription, they should obtain a receipt form PS7 from the pharmacist at the time the charge is paid and claim a refund within three calendar months.
How long is help given for? As long as you are either automatically exempted or hold a current exemption certificate.
If you have to pay the HS prescription charge and need frequent prescriptions you can limit the amount you have to pay. A prescription prepayment certificate can be purchased from your local pharmacist in advance for a period of four or 12 months. Full details are in leaflets HC11 and HC12.
If the patient is entitled to free prescriptions or charge remission he/she will not have to pay for prescriptions at the pharmacy.
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