Publication - Factsheet
Help with health costs (HCS1): information booklet - August 2021
Information booklet (HCS1) providing advice on what help a person may be entitled to for NHS charges.
Proof of Entitlement Tables
The tables on the following pages show who can get NHS treatment. They also set out what proof of entitlement you need to have and how to get proof.
There are separate tables for NHS dental treatment and optical vouchers.
For NHS dental treatment – see below.
For optical vouchers – see NHS Optical Vouchers.
| You can get free NHS dental treatment if you: | The proof you need to have | Where and how to get proof |
|---|---|---|
| Are under 26 years old | Any official document showing your name and date of birth such as a birth certificate, NHS medical card, passport, travel concession card. | NHS medical cards are given out when you are first registered as a patient with a GP. If you need a card, contact your local NHS Board. |
| Are aged 18 and in full-time education | A current Child Benefit order book or evidence of age as above. If you do not get Child Benefit, you can show proof of your date of birth and proof that you are a full-time student. | If you do not have an order book, contact the Child Benefit Centre: 0845 302 1444. Your school, college, university or local education authority can give you proof that you are in qualifying full-time education (see page 13). |
| Are pregnant | MatB1 certificate or NHS exemption certificate. | MatB1 certificates are issued by your GP or registered midwife. You can apply for an NHS exemption certificate as proof. To get one ask your GP, midwife or health visitor for an FW8 application form. The form tells you what to do. The midwife who delivers your baby will give you a notification of birth form. Birth certificates and stillbirth certificates are issued by your local registrar of births, marriages and deaths. |
| Have had a baby in the previous 12 months, or have had a stillborn baby in the previous 12 months | Notification of birth form, birth certificate or stillbirth certificate. |
| You can get free dental treatment if you: | The proof you need to have | Where and how to get proof |
|---|---|---|
| Are named on a valid HC2 certificate | An HC2 certificate for full help with health costs. | Make a claim using form HC1, obtainable from your Jobcentre Plus office or by calling 0131 275 6000. You may also be able to get an HC1 from your local hospital, dentist, optician or doctor. |
| Are named on a valid HC3 certificate | The charge may be reduced if you are named on an HC3 certificate for partial help with health costs. | |
| Receive or are included in your partner award of Income Support | An entitlement letter from your Jobcentre Plus Office. | You can get proof in the form of an entitlement letter from your Jobcentre Plus Office. |
| Receive or are included in your partner’s aware of Income-related Employment and Support Allowance | An entitlement letter from your Jobcentre Plus Office. | You can get proof in the form of an entitlement letter from your Jobcentre Plus Office. |
| Receive or are included in your partner’s award of Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance | An entitlement letter from your Jobcentre Plus Office. | You can get proof in the form of an entitlement letter from your Jobcentre Plus Office. |
| Receive or are included in your partner’s award of Pension Credit guarantee credit paid on its own or with savings credit | Pension Credit award notice from the Department of Work and Pensions, Pension Services. | If you have lost or mislaid your Pension Service award notice, contact the Pension Service phone line on 0845 606 0265. |
| Receive or are included in an award of tax credits and meeting the qualifying conditions | A valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate. | If you are eligible an exemption certificate will be sent to you. See Income Groups if you haven’t yet received your certificate. |
| Receive or are included in an award of Universal Credit and meet the qualifying conditions | An entitlement letter from your Jobcentre Plus Office. | You can get proof in the form of an entitlement letter from your Jobcentre Plus Office. |
| You can get optical vouchers if: | The proof you need to have | Where and how to get proof |
|---|---|---|
| Are aged under 16 | A Child Benefit order book, NHS medical card, passport, birth certificate, travel concession card, showing your name and date of birth. | If you do not have an order book, contact the Child Benefit Centre: 0845 302 1444. To get a new NHS medical card contact your NHS Board. |
| Are aged 16, 17 or 18 and in full-time education | A current Child Benefit order book, or evidence of age as above and a letter or other document from your school, college or university stating that you are a full-time student. | If you do not have an order book, contact the Child Benefit Centre: 0845 302 1444. Your school, college, university or your local education authority can give you proof that you are in qualifying full-time education (see Age Groups). |
| Receive or are included in your partner’s award of Income Support | An entitlement letter from your Jobcentre Plus office. | You can get proof in the form of an entitlement letter from your Jobcentre Plus Office. |
| Receive or are included in your partner’s award of Income-related Employment and Support Allowance | An entitlement letter from your Jobcentre Plus office. | You can get proof in the form of an entitlement letter from your Jobcentre Plus Office. |
| Receive or are included in your partner’s award of Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance | An entitlement letter from your Jobcentre Plus office. | You can get proof in the form of an entitlement letter from your Jobcentre Plus Office. |
| Receive or are included in your partner’s award of Pension Credit guarantee credit paid on its own or with savings credit | Pension Credit award notice from the Department of Work and Pensions, Pension Services. | If you have lost or mislaid your Pension Service award notice, contact the Pension Service phone line on 0845 606 0265. |
| You can get optical vouchers if: | The proof you need to have | Where and how to get proof |
|---|---|---|
| You receive or are included in your partner’s award of tax credits and meeting qualifying conditions | A valid NHS Tax Credit exemption certificate. | If you are eligible for free treatment, you will be sent a certificate. See page 17 if you haven’t received a certificate yet. |
| You receive or are included in an award of Universal Credit and meet the qualifying conditions | An entitlement letter from your Jobcentre Plus Office. | You can get proof in the form of an entitlement letter from your Jobcentre Plus Office. |
| You are named on a valid HC2 certificate | An HC2 certificate for full help with health costs. | Make a claim using form HC1, obtainable from your Jobcentre Plus office or by calling 0131 275 6000. You may also be able to get one from your local hospital, dentist, optician or GP. |
| You are named on a valid HC3 Certificate | An HC3 Certificate for practical help with health costs. | Make a claim using form HC1, obtainable from your Jobcentre Plus office or by calling 0131 275 6000. You may also be able to get one from your local hospital, dentist, optician or GP. |
Contact
Email: elizabeth.mclear@gov.scot
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