Travel Costs to and from Hospital (the hospital travel costs scheme)Under the Hospitals Travel Costs Scheme, out-patients or in-patients under the care of a health service consultant may be entitled to help with travel expenses. Any expenses awarded are not taxable. You don't have to have paid National Insurance contributions to qualify. The amount of expenses is based on income.
You, and in special circumstances any essential escort, can reclaim travel costs for journeys to and from hospital for treatment if:
- You, or your partner, are receiving:
Income Support; or
Jobseeker's Allowance (Income based); or
Working Tax Credit and you have a household income of £15,050 or less.
- You are named on a current certificate HC2;
- You are a War or Ministry of Defence pensioner who is being treated for the disability for which you get a War Pension.
If you are not automatically entitled, you can claim help towards the cost on the grounds of low income.
If you claim on the grounds of low income your entitlement will be calculated in a manner similar to Income Support (see leaflet HC11).
If you have capital of less than £16,000, (£21,000 for those permanently in a residential care home or nursing home) you may be entitled to either full or part payment of your hospital fares.
If you are entitled to full help you will be issued with a full help certificate (form HC2).
If you are entitled to partial help you will be issued with a limited help certificate (form HC3).
As well as your financial circumstances, the hospital will use their discretion to decide which travel costs are necessary. Factors such as the type of transport used are important. Hospitals will not normally reimburse taxi fares unless it is the only type of transport available for all or part of the journey.
If you are not receiving:
- Income Support; or
- Jobseeker's Allowance (Income based);
you should complete form HC1 and send it to your local Social Security or Jobs & Benefits office.
War Pensioners should reclaim hospital travel costs by writing to:
The Treatment Group
War Pensions Agency,
Norcross,
Blackpool,
FY5 3WP
Refunds are made by the hospital when claimed immediately on arrival at the hospital.
You will have to prove entitlement to a refund by taking evidence of the benefit you are receiving, forms HC2 or HC3 are for those on a low income.
If you have paid fares and require a refund, you should use form HC5 and claim within three months. In these cases, payment is made by the hospital finance / cashier's department.
How long is help provided for? As long as your circumstances remain unchanged from your original claim. Forms HC2 and HC3 are valid for up to 13 months.
Normal public transport fares or reasonable fuel costs only up to the cost of public transport fares.
Hospitals will not normally reimburse taxi fares unless it is the only type of transport available for all or part of the journey. You should always check in advance with the hospital concerned, before incurring costs of travel by taxi.
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