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  • Breadcrumb

    1. Home
    2. Benefits and money
    3. Benefits and financial support
    4. On a low income

    Help with health costs

    Most Health Service treatment is free, although there can be charges for some things. Depending on your circumstances, you might get help with the cost of some treatment, services and items. If you're on a low income, you may be able to get help with health service and travel costs.

    If you claim Universal Credit, you need to fill in the HC1 form to claim help with health costs. You will not get help with these costs until after you send the form to your local Jobs and Benefits office and get confirmation that you are eligible. Certificates are valid for 12 months. 

    Who can get help with health costs

    All prescriptions dispensed in Northern Ireland are free of charge for everyone. This includes medication, wigs and surgical appliances. You do not need to do anything to qualify for free prescriptions as everyone is automatically entitled.

    • Prescriptions

    If you are in one of the groups below, you may also be entitled to the following:

    • free HS dental treatment
    • free sight tests
    • vouchers towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses
    • help with the costs of travel for treatment on referral by a doctor or dentist

    Group 1

    You may be entitled to some or all of the above because of your age (young or old), a medical condition or because you get a War Disablement Pension or hold a War Pension exemption certificate.

    Group 2

    You are entitled to all of the above, if you and/or your partner get:

    • Working Tax Credit with Child Tax Credit and your income is £15,276 per year or less
    • Working Tax Credit with a disability element and your income is £15,276 per year or less
    • Child Tax Credit and you are not eligible for Working Tax Credit, and your income is £15,276 per year or less
    • Income Support
    • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
    • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
    • Pension Credit Guarantee Credit

    Group 3

    You may get help with your health costs if:

    • you claim Universal Credit

    or

    • you are on a low income

    and

    • you do not fit into Group 1 or Group 2 above

    How to claim

    Group 1 and Group 2

    To get help if you are in Groups 1 or 2, fill in the back of your prescription form, or tell your dentist or optician when you go for dental or optical treatment. If you are claiming help with healthcare travel costs or for wigs and fabric supports, tell the hospital and show proof of entitlement.

    Group 3

    To claim help with health costs

    You need to fill in the claim form HC1 'Claim for help with health and travel costs'.

    • You can download this form from this link Form HC1 - claim for help with health and travel costs 
    • Get a copy from any Jobs & Benefits offices - your local doctor, dentist, pharmacist and optician, or hospital might also have a copy

    When you have filled in the form, post it to or hand it in to your local Jobs and Benefits office.

    • Form HC1 - claim for help with health and travel costs 

    You will not get help with these costs until after you send the form and get confirmation that you are eligible.

    If your application is successful, you will be issued a certificate which will entitle you to either:

    • full remission of health costs for a 12 month period (HC2 certificate)
    • partial remission of health costs for a 12 month period (HC3 certificate)

    To continue to get help with health costs, you will need to complete a new HC1 form before your HC2 or HC3 certificate expires.

    The date the claim form is received in a Jobs & Benefits office is the date the Department for Communities can consider payment from - not the date you downloaded the form.

    More useful links

    • Hospital travel costs scheme
    • Contacting 08 and 03 numbers
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    On a low income

    • Accommodation service charges and Universal Credit
    • Benefits for higher education students
    • Christmas Bonus
    • Claim Social Fund Budgeting loan
    • Claiming Universal Credit if you're a student
    • Cold Weather Payment
    • Energy saving grants
    • Extended payment of Housing Benefit/Rate Relief
    • Help to save
    • Help with health costs
    • Housing Benefit and Rate Relief for tenants
    • Income Support
    • Income Support with dependant's allowance - two child limit
    • Mortgage Interest Run On
    • Rates Housing Benefit and Rate Relief
    • Repaying your mortgage interest on a low income
    • Support for Mortgage Interest
    • Universal Credit

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    Email 
    dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

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    Email 
    customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

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    Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

    Employment and Support Allowance

    Call 0800 587 1377

    Jobseeker’s Allowance

    Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

    Personal Independence Payment

    Call 0800 587 0932

    If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

    Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

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