NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS)

If you have a low income, you may be able to get help with NHS costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme. Skiptomaincontent Home NHSservices Helpwithhealthcosts Backto Helpwithhealthcosts NHSLowIncomeScheme(LIS) Ifyouhavealowincome,youmaybeabletogethelpwithNHScoststhroughtheNHSLowIncomeScheme(LIS).Theschemecovers:prescriptioncostsdentalcostseyecarecostshealthcaretravelcostswigsandfabricsupportsYoucanapplyfortheschemeaslongasyoursavings,investmentsorproperty(notincludingwhereyoulive)donotexceedthecapitallimit.InEngland,thelimitis:£23,250forpeoplewholivepermanentlyinacarehome£16,000foreveryoneelseAnyhelpyou'reentitledtoisalsoavailabletoyourpartnerandanydependantyoungpeople.Dependingonyourcircumstances,youcanreceivefullhelp(HC2certificate)orpartialhelp(HC3certificate).Youqualifyforfullhelpifyourincomeislessthanorequaltoyourrequirements,orisgreaterthanyourrequirementsbynomorethanhalfthecurrentEnglishprescriptioncharge.Ifyourincomeexceedsthislimit,youmaybeentitledtopartialhelp.Yourcertificatewillshowhowmuchyouhavetopaytowardsyourhealthcosts.Therulesgoverningwho'seligiblearebroadlythesameasthoseforameans-testedbenefit.Buttheassessmentalsotakesintoaccountcounciltaxandhousingcosts,soyoucangethelpwithhealthcostsevenifyourincomeistoohighforameans-testedbenefit. HowtoapplyThereare2waystoapplyfortheNHSLowIncomeScheme(LIS).Youcanapplyonline,orbypost.Tofindoutwhocanapplyonline,ortomakeanonlineapplication,gototheNHSBusinessServicesAuthoritywebsite.Toapplybypostyou'llneedtocompleteanHC1formandsendittotheaddressontheform.YoucanorderanHC1formonline,ordownloadanHC1form(PDF,451KB)andprintityourself.TheformmayalsobeavailablefromyourlocalJobcentrePlusofficeorNHShospital.Adoctor,dentistoropticianmayalsobeabletogiveyouone.IfyouneedhelpmakingyourclaimorhavequestionsabouttheLIS,call03003301343.TelephonelinesareopenMondaytoFriday8amto6pm,andSaturday9amto3pm.Certificatesareusuallyvalidforbetween6monthsand5years,dependingonyourcircumstances.Youdonotneedtoapplyifyouoryourpartner:getIncomeSupportgetincome-basedJobseeker'sAllowancegetincome-relatedEmploymentandSupportAllowancegetPensionCreditGuaranteeCreditarenamedon,orentitledto,avalidNHStaxcreditexemptioncertificate–ifyoudonothaveacertificate,youcanshowyourawardnotice;youqualifyifyougetChildTaxCredits,WorkingTaxCreditswithadisabilityelement(orboth)andhaveincomefortaxcreditpurposesof£15,276orlessgetUniversalCreditandmeetthecriteriaThesebenefitsortaxcreditsalreadyentitleyoutofullhelpwithhealthcosts. FormalreviewsIfyou'reunhappywiththeoutcomeofyourclaim,youcanaskforareviewbyaserviceimprovementadviser.Theserviceimprovementteamcheckswhetheraclaimhasbeencorrectlyassessedinaccordancewiththeregulationsgoverningthescheme.Ifthedecisionwaswrong,anewcertificatewillbesenttoyou.Youcanrequestareviewonlineorpostyourrequestto:NHSBSALISReviewTeamHelpwithHealthCostsBridgeHouse152PilgrimStreetNewcastle-upon-TyneNE16SN Howtoclaimbackmoneythatyou'vealreadypaidYoucansubmitaclaimforarefundatthesametimeasyouapplyfortheLowIncomeScheme.Refundclaimsmustbereceivedwithin3monthsofthedateonwhichyoupaid,orwithin3monthsofthedateofyoursighttest.Toclaimarefundofprescriptioncharges,you'llneedanNHSreceiptandrefundformFP57.Askfortheformwhenyoupayforyourprescription.Toclaimarefundofothercharges,includingdentaltreatment,wigsandfabricsupports,sighttests,glassesorcontactlenses,andhealthcaretravelcosts,you'llneedtherelevantHC5form.DownloadyourHC5form:HC5(D)claimdentalcharges(PDF,56kb)HC5(O)claimopticalcharges(PDF,49kb)HC5(T)claimtravelcharges(PDF,35kb)HC5(W)claimwigsandfabricsupports(PDF,40kb) ImportantnumbersNHSLowIncomeSchemehelpline–03003301343.Prescriptionserviceshelpline–03003301349.Queriesaboutmedicalexemptioncertificates–03003301341.Queriesaboutprescriptionprepaymentcertificates(PPCs)–03003301341.Queriesabouttaxcreditcertificates–03003301347.Call03001230849toorderapapercopyoftheHC12,HC5andHC1(SC)forms.Call03003301343forallotherqueries. Morein Helpwithhealthcosts WhenyouneedtopaytowardsNHScare NHSLowIncomeScheme(LIS) HelpwithhealthcostsforpeoplegettingUniversalCredit WigsandfabricsupportsontheNHS HealthcareTravelCostsScheme(HTCS) Whatisapersonalhealthbudget? Pagelastreviewed:29April2020 Nextreviewdue:29April2023