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.
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:
- 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.
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.
Date your HC1 form is received
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.
Travelling outside Northern Ireland for treatment
If you wish to receive treatment outside Northern Ireland, it’s important to understand how it works and the assistance you may be able to access.
A dedicated online information hub is available to help patients find out what schemes are available, how to apply and in some cases receive reimbursement.
Visit the hub at the following link: