With the cost of living crisis continuing to plague the country, many people are scrambling to save money wherever possible.
One key way of doing this is by seeing if you could be eligible to not pay for prescriptions on the NHS. This is all the more important for people suffering from long-term health conditions that require a regular prescription.
It is also important to check if you could be eligible amid concerns that Chancellor Jeremy Hunt may bring in more cuts to public services, including the NHS, potentially driving up the price of prescriptions.
Here's a breakdown of who can claim for a free prescription.
Who is eligible for free prescription
According to the NHS, the following groups can claim a free prescription:
- Aged 60 or over
- Aged 16 and under
- Aged between 16 to 18 and in full-time education
- Are pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months while owning a valid MatEX certificate
- Have a specified medical condition and a valid MedEx certificate
- Have a continuing physical disability that prevents you from going out without help from another alongside a valid MedEx certificate
- Hold a war pension exemption certificate and the prescription is for your accepted disability
- Are an NHS inpatient
However, you may also claim a free prescription if you or your partner receive some form of benefit or if you are under 20 and reliant on someone who receives one of the following payments:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Universal Credit and meet the criteria
Furthermore, if you receive tax credit you may receive a free prescription if you meet one of the following:
- a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate – if you do not have a certificate, you can show your award notice. You qualify if you get Child Tax Credits, Working Tax Credits with a disability element (or both), and have income for tax credit purposes of £15,276 or less
- a valid NHS certificate for full help with health costs (HC2)
Read next:
-
Landmark offices with rooftop pool near The Lowry Hotel and stunning views approved
-
Outside of London, the price of a Manchester city centre flat is rising the fastest
- How a firm with no employees built a massive Manchester apartment building and then went under owing £50m
- Home of CBBC and CBeebies at MediaCity to close as BBC cuts costs
- Company that ran well-known Didsbury restaurant enters liquidation owing six-figure sum
