Universal Credit LCWRA Free Eye and Dental?

callumt72
callumt72 Online Community Member Posts: 26 Connected
in Universal Credit (UC)
Hi,

I'm currently really worried about this, me and my partner recieve joint Universal Credit claim and I recieve LCWRA and my partner works full time 30+ hours I wasn't aware of this but don't know what to do as I have autisim and over mental impairments so feel slightly misled, by my opticians.

 They told me if you reiceve UC you get free eye test voucher, reduce cost on frames through the NHS. I have read this is not always true on Universal Credit and will Iead to a fine or in trouble and how do I fix this after the fact, I can't afford a fine or the full actual amount what I paid.
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Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    You are correct to be concerned here. For you and your partner because you have LCWRA then you will both only be entitled to free NHS treatment if you or your partners earnings are less than £935 in your last assessment period. See link. https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/help-with-health-costs-for-people-getting-universal-credit/

    I wouldn't expect your partners earnings to be less than this if they are working full time hours. 

    You can look into claiming help with NHS costs through the NHS low income scheme. You will need to apply for this first and wait for a decision to be made before claiming for any NHS treatment. https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/nhs-low-income-scheme-lis/
  • callumt72
    callumt72 Online Community Member Posts: 26 Connected
    poppy123456 said:
    You are correct to be concerned here. For you and your partner because you have LCWRA then you will both only be entitled to free NHS treatment if you or your partners earnings are less than £935 in your last assessment period. See link. https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/help-with-health-costs-for-people-getting-universal-credit/

    I wouldn't expect your partners earnings to be less than this if they are working full time hours. 

    You can look into claiming help with NHS costs through the NHS low income scheme. You will need to apply for this first and wait for a decision to be made before claiming for any NHS treatment. https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/nhs-low-income-scheme-lis/
    I don't know if this is relevant or can help me I am excempt from NHS perscriptions its says on my medical excemption NHS perscriptions, I was told my lenses or NHS perscription lenses whilst, under that it says This exemption is not for
    •  NHS dental check-ups and treatment
    but does not says eyes?
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    What medical exemption do you have? There's a list of other exemptions here for eye tests. https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/opticians/free-nhs-eye-tests-and-optical-vouchers/
  • callumt72
    callumt72 Online Community Member Posts: 26 Connected
    poppy123456 said:
    What medical exemption do you have? There's a list of other exemptions here for eye tests. https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/opticians/free-nhs-eye-tests-and-optical-vouchers/

    I’ve covered any sensitive information 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    It’s for prescriptions but doesn’t cover dental or eye tests. 
  • callumt72
    callumt72 Online Community Member Posts: 26 Connected
    poppy123456 said:
    It’s for prescriptions but doesn’t cover dental or eye tests. 
    I can’t see eye tests
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    That’s correct, it doesn’t cover eye tests or dental treatment. You will need to pay for both of those if your partners earnings are more then £935 in your last assessment period.

    Please look at applying for NHS low income scheme but this will depend on your partners earnings. 
  • callumt72
    callumt72 Online Community Member Posts: 26 Connected
    poppy123456 said:
    That’s correct, it doesn’t cover eye tests or dental treatment. You will need to pay for both of those if your partners earnings are more then £935 in your last assessment period.

    Please look at applying for NHS low income scheme but this will depend on your partners earnings. 
    So there is no arguing the point with them regarding my doctor telling me to get an eye test because of the yellow floaters caused by my underactive thyroid causing them which is the reason I’m excempt from nhs prescriptions also having no access to care or someone to tell me the right options
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    There's nothing to argue about because you're not entitled to free eye tests. Your exemption is for free prescriptions due to your underactive thyroid. 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    nhs-low-income-scheme there's HC2 which is help with full cost or HC1 which is limited help with NHS costs. 
  • callumt72
    callumt72 Online Community Member Posts: 26 Connected
    poppy123456 said:
    There's nothing to argue about because you're not entitled to free eye tests. Your exemption is for free prescriptions due to your underactive thyroid. 
    So even though the eye test would have been free through specsavers because of free eye test with any purchase of glasses. The way they did it makes me liable. I haven’t got the ability to fill in paper work like that I appreciate your help.

    I find it silly my health is impacted by my partners income and I’m expected to control her finances for my own needs.
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    Specsavers aren't doing their free eye test offer at the moment. This offer isn't available all the time. https://www.specsavers.co.uk/free-eye-test

    Unfortunately, when you live with a partner things like this are based on your joint circumstances. Can your partner help you fill out the form for NHS low Income scheme because they will need their details and Income details too.
  • callumt72
    callumt72 Online Community Member Posts: 26 Connected
    poppy123456 said:
    There's nothing to argue about because you're not entitled to free eye tests. Your exemption is for free prescriptions due to your underactive thyroid. 
    My eye test would have been free if I bought a pair of glasses with Specsavers as it was specsavers voucher that entitled to one free eye test with purchase of glasses, which I bought half. The amount the lenses considered prescription?
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    Ah yes, having that voucher is different. I'm afraid I can only tell you what the rules are for free NHS treatment, I do not make those rules. 
  • callumt72
    callumt72 Online Community Member Posts: 26 Connected
    poppy123456 said:
    Specsavers aren't doing their free eye test offer at the moment. This offer isn't available all the time. https://www.specsavers.co.uk/free-eye-test

    Unfortunately, when you live with a partner things like this are based on your joint circumstances. Can your partner help you fill out the form for NHS low Income scheme because they will need their details and Income details too.
    Firstly like to apologise messages or doubling up here dunno how one minute it’s not post the next day it is,

    Sadly My partner has a learning disability and this would be very difficult for us to fill in, as for the voucher they said there’s combos so if you spend £99 pair of glasses it can be buy 1 get 1 free, choice of lenses, free eye test it can be changed. 

    Really overwhelmed with this I’m going to not ask any more questions because I’m thinking the worst but will monitor the responses thanks
  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 9,557 Scope Online Community Coordinator
    Hi @callumt72 please don't worry about the posts doubling up.  As you've not verified your email, if you post quickly, your comments will get stuck in our "spam queue" which we manually have to go through each day.  So your comments may not appear straight away. :) 

    I'm sorry to hear you're overwhelmed with all of this. Do you have a friend or family member who could help fill in the forms? If not it may be worth contacting your local CAB.
  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 5,040 Championing
    edited March 2024
    Your medical exemption for prescriptions is for items of medication only.

    If an optician wrote a prescription for medication for an eye infection (example) you wouldn't pay. 

    However anything to do with glasses or contact lenses doesn't fall under medication and isn't included in your exemption. 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    If you don’t have anyone to help fill out the low income forms you can ask an advice agency for help. 

    I don’t know for certain if there’s any entitlement because that will depend on your joint circumstances. 
  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 5,040 Championing
    callumt72 said:
    poppy123456 said:
    There's nothing to argue about because you're not entitled to free eye tests. Your exemption is for free prescriptions due to your underactive thyroid. 
    My eye test would have been free if I bought a pair of glasses with Specsavers as it was specsavers voucher that entitled to one free eye test with purchase of glasses, which I bought half. The amount the lenses considered prescription?

    Yes I suppose the lenses might be considered prescription, but your medical exemption for prescriptions applies to medication items only.

    Lenses don't come under medication. They come under optical. 
  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 5,040 Championing
    Sorry seems a post got caught up in the spam filter. 

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