Health benefits

Ask your dentist‚ optician or hospital staff for advice before paying for treatment. If you are receiving Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or income-based Jobseekers' Allowance, you automatically qualify for the maximum help available. You will need to take your award letter for the benefit being received. Other people who have less than £16,000 in savings can apply for help from the NHS Low Income Scheme using a HC1 form.   

The HC1 form can be used to claim help with NHS dental treatment; NHS wigs and fabric supports; glasses and contact lenses; and travel to hospital for NHS treatment. There may be other ways of getting help if you have certain medical conditions.

How to apply

You need the HC1 application form. This is available from Jobcentre Plus offices, many opticians, dentists, local hospitals and GP surgeries or by calling the NHS forms order line on 0845 610 1112 (lo-call rate). You can also request a form online from the NHS Business Services Authority (see Useful website).

For a copy of the form in large print or other formats or for help to fill it in, call the Help with Health Costs helpline on 0845 850 1166 (lo-call rate). They can also provide an interpreter if English is not your first language. Simply call and tell them in English what language you prefer or ask a friend to tell them.

 FS61 - Help with health costs factsheet - May 2011 (PDF 153 KB)