Either you or your partner may be getting the benefit.
Income Support
You and your partner get free:
- NHS prescriptions
- NHS dental treatment
- NHS sight tests
- NHS wigs and fabric supports
You and you partner also get:
- a voucher towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses
- refunds of necessary travel costs to receive NHS treatment.
This also applies to any dependent children, or young people under 20, included in your Income Support claim.
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
You, your partner and any dependent children, or young people under 20, included in your claim are entitled to the same things as people getting Income Support.
Contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Important: On its own, contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance does not entitle you to help with health costs. If you have to pay health costs, check to see if you are in any of the other groups. You might be able to get help if you are on a low income.
If you are not sure about the type of Jobseeker’s Allowance you are getting, ask at your Jobcentre Plus office
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
You, your partner and any dependent children, or young people under 20, included in your claim are entitled to the same things as people getting Income Support.
Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance
Important: On its own, contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance does not entitle you to help with health costs. If you have to pay health costs, check to see if you are in any of the other groups. You might be able to get help if you are on a low income.
If you are not sure about the type of Employment and Support Allowance you are getting, ask at your Jobcentre Plus office
Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
If you or your partner gets:
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit; or
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit with Savings Credit
you are entitled to the same help with health costs as people getting Income Support
Important: If you only get Pension Credit Savings Credit on its own, this does not entitle you to help with health costs. If you have to pay health costs, check to see if you are in any of the other groups. You might be able to get help if you are on a low income.
How to check if you are getting Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
Only your award notice tells you what type of Pension Credit you get. This is shown at item 5 on the page entitled ‘How your Pension Credit has been worked out’. If you have not received an award notice, or have mislaid it, you should ring the Pension Centre on local 0845 606 0265 and ask for a copy.
Other Benefits
Only Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance and Pension Credit Guarantee Credit give you automatic help with health costs.
Important: Other benefits, such as Incapacity Benefit or Disability Living Allowance, do not entitle you to help with health costs. This is because they are not income related. If you have to pay health costs, check to see if you are in any of the other groups. You might be able to get help if you are on a low income.