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

NHS Optical Vouchers (towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses)

You can get a voucher if you:

• are under 16;
• are in full-time education and aged 16, 17 or 18;
• need complex lenses;
• get or 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 Savings 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 NHS optical vouchers.

Partial help:

• if you are named on a valid HC3 certificate you might get some help.

Note: If your glasses or contact lenses cost more than your voucher value, you will have to pay the difference.

War pensioners:

• help may be available.