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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

  • Being on benefits does not guarantee free prescriptions.

    I'm on universal credit and we are technically eligible for free prescriptions subject to additional conditions 

    In practice, claiming a free prescription is a hassle.  The back of the prescription form has not been updated.  There is no box to tick for universal credit claiments.

    Advice varies.  Some pharmacies refuse to give out free medicine and insist I pay.  Others expect the job centre to provide me with some kind of exemption certificate.  Others just say tick one of the other boxes of the benefit that universal credit has replaced.   Or just pay the full cost.

    I usually tick one of the other boxes.

    A couple of years ago things came to a head.  I received a letter accusing me of benefit fraud.  And a fine of £100 +  the cost of the original prescription.  

    I had ticked the income support box.  They checked and found I was not on income support.  So a fraudulent claim and a fine with threats of court action if a didn't pay up.

    I rang their help line explaining that I was on UC and entitled to free prescriptions.  But there was no box to tick for UC. And I was following the advice the pharmacy gave me.

    They insisted that it was up to me to prove my entitlement to free prescriptions.

    At my job centre appointment I asked my UC work coach for help, expecting her to print out a standard letter confirming that I was in fact on UC.   She refused, formally stating that her job was to ensure that I was meeting my job search requirements in order to continue to receive UC.  And that the payments side was nothing to do with her.

    A month later I recived another letter.  The fine had gone up to £150 + cost of prescription.  28 days to pay or county court action would begin to recover the money.

    This was doing wonders for my mental health.

    Finally I got advice to ring the UC helpline.  After waiting and listening to 50min of piped music ,. I got through and they sent me a formal letter.  Which I passed onto the nhs business unit prosecuting me.  And the dropped the fine.

  • in reply to Robert124

    Hi, yes I understand I would still have to pay for prescriptions, as I do already, but with the extra income, I'd be happy too.

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