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Why do you have to be on benefits to get concessions on anything and free prescriptions?

NAS62372

I have autism, I have worked for 30 years for s friend of the family, who took me on originally as a favour to my mum, then realised that due to my autism, I was actually good at organising a store room.

 I won't go into detail about my finances, let's just say at the end of the week I have between £8 and £18 spare, I need 3 prescriptions a month because of my autism at a cost of £27, yes I know you can buy a prepayment certificate.

My problem is because I don't claim benefit I don't get any concessions on any thing ( trains, attractions ect)  withoutt the paperwork saying you are on benefit no one will accept you are disabled.

Does anyone know if there is anyway around this, other than actually claiming benefit, which I don't think I would get unless I went to tribunal, and that wouldn't happen with my anxiety.

Parents

  • By 'using' the pre-payment system it can be cheaper to buy the three monthly repayment rather than the Annual prepayment.  You can save about fifteen pounds a year.

    If your prescriptions are for a month's supply, all issued at the same time, you would buy a three monthly prepayment to start on collection of the first prescription from the pharmacy.   Then just before the three months was up, you would collect the next month's prescription, ie the fourth month.  You can then get four months from each three month's worth of prescriptions.

    For example, your prescription is due on the first of each month.  So if it was due on 1 June, 1 July, 1 August and 1 September, you could collect on 1 June, 1 July and 1 August.  But September's you would collect in August, a day or so before it was due.  The next pre-payment need not start until 1 October.  The GP will normally issue the (paper) prescription when it is asked for, rather than when it is officially due (unless you are getting a prescription to help you with a drug problem).  So for a three month pre-payment you can get four months worth of prescriptions.  You just have to remember to apply for each one as a new customer, as they may otherwise renew it rather than start a new one off.  I did this for a number of years before I was entitled to free prescriptions.

    Fifteen pounds saving over a year is not a great deal I know, but it is money that you can use for something else that would otherwise have gone to waste.

  • in reply to Trainspotter

    It is worth noting that not all medication can be issued in large quantities. It is not only those to treat drug problems anything that falls into controlled substance category has to limited and can't be ordered when you want. 2 of my medications fall into this category and can only be issued every 28 days, this even gets questioned when you order early to allow for weekends and bank holidays. 

  • in reply to NAS39248

    I have a good working arrangement with my GP - they let me have whatever I ask for - including lots of Tramadol.   I just pop into the designated chemist and it all happens electronically.

Reply Children
  • in reply to Plastic

    You are lucky then, I'm on tramadol and co-codamol and I also order electronically, my prescription got rejected before easter as it was early (2 bank holidays and a weekend have to order 3days in advance as standard) so ordered 7 days early I ended up with no medication for 3 days which caused me alot of pain