Contribution based new ESA.

mickmyboy
mickmyboy Community member Posts: 1 Listener
edited August 2019 in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
i always worked and a while ago i had an accident and now both my legs are poor and painfull to walk when i went to the job center to hand in my form they said i should recieve free precriptions on ESA but dident tell me about the different types or anything so when i needed my pain killers i went to the doctors got my precription went to the chemist got my pills and thought nothing from this and recently i recieved a fine , i was shocked most of my weekly bennifit but i was aware it was free untill i contacted the number on the letter and said you have to pay you ticked the box wrong i found this very stressfull as bennifits is all i have and im a single father so i called ESA and they said because you worked and paid all your taxes you have to pay for perscription,s but people who havent worked or paid enougth taxes dont ....what a joke so if i sat at home and did drugs or get drunk all day i get free everything but because i worked i get punished this government is a joke i have no savings and this will put me in debt and to make it worse ive had about another four persciptions since then but they only do checks every 3 months so ive got a whole bunch of new charges now coming plus ive been to the dentist and opticians and apparently we dont get them free either so god knows whats going to happen i have applied for free number one form cant remeber what its called but if that doesent happen then i will not be able to go to the doctors because i cant afford the medication ....sorry everybody about the spelling ect i have dislexia.

Comments

  • michfinch
    michfinch Community member Posts: 173 Empowering
    I get my Prescriptions free because I have a long-term illness, Epilepsy, which requires continuous medication. I would check with your Doctor to see....
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,054 Championing
    Hi,

    The reason is because Contributions based ESA isn't means tested. This means that other household income and saving aren't counted when claiming these types of benefits. A person can be a millionaire and still be entitled to claim contributions based benefits.

    For yourself because you have no other household income then you need to take a look at the NHS low income scheme. Filling out the HC2 form will allow you to get free NHS treatment. Of course you will have to wait for a decision to be made on this before ticking the box and claiming the treatment, including prescriptions. If you're entitled then they'll send you a certificate which you'll be able to use and then be able to tick the relevant box.

    See link for details.

  • KG100
    KG100 Community member Posts: 223 Empowering
    You can get a pre-paid certificate each year for 10 monthly payments of only £10.40p.
    I do this and save a lot of money over the course of a year. 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,054 Championing
    KG100 said:
    You can get a pre-paid certificate each year for 10 monthly payments of only £10.40p.
    I do this and save a lot of money over the course of a year. 
    The NHS low Income scheme doesn't cost anything, then all NHS treatment is free. All you need to do is fill out a form.  Mickmyboy says he's a single dad with no other income other than benefits.
  • Chloe_Scope
    Chloe_Scope Scope Posts: 10,511 Championing
    Hi @mickmyboy and a warm welcome to the community. I hope the advice provided above will mean you can get free prescriptions. If there is anything else we can support you with then please do let us know :)

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