Overview

• Beyond always-free items such as contraceptives and medicines given to hospital inpatients, automatic entitlement applies to under‑16s, 16–18s in full‑time education, and people aged 60 or over.
• Eligibility also extends to those on income‑based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income‑related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, and Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, with partners and children under 20 included.
• Universal Credit only qualifies when take‑home pay in the previous assessment period is under the limit, with guidance to tick box U on the form or box K if U is not available.
• Regular users can lower costs with Prescription Prepayment Certificates priced at £32.05 for three months or £114.50 for a year, which the NHS says can save more than £241 for three monthly items.
• Further support includes a dedicated HRT PPC and the NHS Low Income Scheme, and wrongful claims can trigger penalty charges of up to £100.