Help with health costs (HCS1): information booklet - August 2021

Free NHS Dental Treatment

You can get free NHS dental treatment if, when the treatment starts, you are:

• aged under 26;
• pregnant or have borne a child within the 12 months before treatment starts;
• an NHS in-patient and the treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist;
• an NHS Hospital Dental Service out-patient;*

* There may be a charge for dentures and bridges.

Or, if when the treatment starts or when the charge is made you:

• are included in an award of someone getting:
• Income Support;
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) paid on its own or with contribution-based ESA;
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) paid on its own or with contribution-based JSA;
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit paid on its own or with Saving Credit; or
• Universal Credit:
  • and had no earnings or net earnings (take-home pay) of £435 or less during the most recent assessment period; or
  • which includes an element for a child and/or limited capability for work or limited capability for work-related activity, and had no earnings (take-home pay) or net earnings of £935 or less during the most recent assessment period;
  • are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate;
  • are named on a valid HC2 certificate for full help under the NHS Low Income Scheme.

Note: contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance or contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance on their own do not entitle you to free NHS dental treatment.

Partial help:

• if you are named on a valid HC3 certificate under the NHS Low Income Scheme you might get some help towards the cost of your NHS dental treatment. The HC3 certificate will tell you how much you have to pay.

War pensioners:

• help may be available.