Aged 18 and under and in full time education
You are entitled to help with health costs if you are:
- under 16
- aged 16, 17 or 18 and in full time education
You get:
- free NHS prescriptions
- free NHS dental treatment
- free NHS sight tests
- free NHS wigs and fabric supports
- help towards the cost of new glasses or contact lenses
- help towards the cost of repairing or replacing your glasses or contact lenses
Aged 16, 17 or 18 and not in full time education
If you are aged 16, 17 or 18 and are not in full-time education, you get:
- free NHS dental treatment for any course of treatment that starts before your 18th birthday
- free NHS dental check-ups, if you are 18 and live in Scotland or Wales
- free NHS prescriptions, if you live in Scotland or Wales
If your parents claim certain benefits and you're named on the claim, you also get:
- free NHS prescriptions
- free NHS sight tests
- free NHS wigs and fabric supports
- help towards the cost of new glasses or contact lenses
- help towards the cost of repairing or replacing your glasses or contact lenses
Aged 19
If you are aged 19, you do not automatically get any help with paying NHS costs, unless your parent or guardian gets certain benefits and you are included in the award.
If you are in Scotland or Wales, NHS prescriptions are usually free.
In Scotland, you also get free:
- NHS dental check ups
- NHS sight tests
In Wales, you get free NHS dental check-ups.
Aged 60 or over
If you're aged 60 and over, you get free:
- NHS prescriptions
- NHS sight tests
If you live in Scotland or Wales, you also get free dental check-ups.
Over State Pension age and on Pension Credit
If you’re over State Pension age and on a low income, you can claim Pension Credit. Find out more about Pension Credit (on GOV.UK).
You are entitled to help with health costs if you or your partner get:
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit with Savings Credit
If you do, you are entitled to:
- free NHS prescriptions
- free NHS dental treatment
- free NHS sight tests
- free NHS wigs and fabric supports
- help towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses
- help towards travel costs to receive NHS treatment
If you get Pension Credit Savings Credit on its own, you are not automatically entitled to help with these costs. You could get help through the NHS Low Income Scheme.