Help with health costs | Mencap | Easy Read

Help with health costs

A doctor sitting at a desk writing on a pad. There is a computer and stethoscope in front of her.

What health costs can I get help with?

Some people can get help with NHS health costs like:

prescriptions
A prescription is where a doctor writes down what medicine they want you to have.
A prescription can be on paper or electronic.
If you have a paper prescription, you will have to give it to a chemist.
If you have an electronic prescription, the GP will email it to the chemist.
The chemist gives you the medicine.

A man lying back in a dentist's chair with a dentist using instruments to look in his mouth and another member of dental staff writing.

the dentist

An optician looking at a man's eye.

eye tests and glasses

A photograph of a person entering an NHS building

travel to health appointments

An outline of some hair and a pair of scissors.

wigs and fabric supports.
Fabric supports are things made of material that you wear to help you sit or move. For example to help weak muscles or your back.

A woman looking at a laptop screen

We have more information about who can get help with paying for prescriptions on our Paying for your medicine page.

A man shrugging his shoulders in front of lots of different leaflets on different types of benefits like Carers Allowance, and Personal Independence Payment

Who can get help with health costs?

Some people who get benefits and some people who do not earn much money might be able to get help with NHS health costs.

The front cover of an Employment and Support Allowance leaflet

Help with health costs if you get benefits

You might not have to pay for NHS health costs if you or your partner get:

Income Support
Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
income-related Employment and Support Allowance.

A front cover of a Universal Credit leaflet

You might not have to pay for NHS health costs if you get Universal Credit. The NHS website has information about help with health costs if you get Universal Credit.

A young girl in a red tshirt.

If you do not have to pay for NHS health costs because of your benefits and

you have a child who is under 20 who lives with you,

they might also get help with their NHS health costs.

A man searching for a webpage on a laptop sitting at a desk

You can check if you can get help with NHS health costs on the NHS website.

A woman is holding her purse upside down looking for money but there is no money left

Low Income Scheme (LIS)

If you do not get much money, you might be able to get help with NHS health costs from the Low Income Scheme (LIS).

a book with Rules written on the front, with a green tick and red cross below

The rules about who can get the LIS are different to benefit rules.

A man in a wheelchair with his thumb up and holding a piece of paper with a green tick on it.

You might be able to get help from the LIS even if you can not get benefits.

A laptop showing a cursor on the screen over to the word click

The NHS website has information about who can apply for the LIS.

A man holding his hand to his chin thinking

There are 2 levels of help you can get from the LIS:

full help
part help.

4 people sitting on a sofa.

If you get help from the LIS, your partner and children can also get the help.

a webpage saying Click, a post box and an application form

How do I apply for the LIS?

You can apply for the LIS online or by post.

A woman looking at a laptop screen

You can find information about who can apply online and how to apply online on the NHS Business Services Authority website.

A woman sitting at a desk with a pen in her hand about to fill out a form

If you want to apply for the LIS by post, you will need to fill in a HC1 form and send it to the address on the form.

A man standing at a reception desk talking to a receptionist who is giving the man something

You might be able to get a HC1 form from:

Jobcentre Plus
a NHS hospital
a doctor
a dentist
an optician.

A brown envelope with the word Official on it

You can order a HC1 form from the NHS Business Services Authority website. The form will be posted to you.

A young man is pressing keys on a laptop

You can download a HC1 form from the NHS Business Services Authority website.

doctor talking to a patient on the phone

If you have any questions about the LIS, or need help to claim the LIS, phone the NHS Low Income Scheme helpline on 0300 330 1343.

You can phone Monday to Friday 8.00 – 6.00 or Saturday 9.00 – 3.00.

An open laptop showing a website home page

How to get help

You can get help and advice about money and energy on our website at https://www.mencap.org.uk/help-and-advice/money-and-benefits/how-save-money

A lady thinking about money and looking worried.

If you are worried about money or paying your bills, contact our  Learning Disability  Helpline:

A man holding a mobile phone

Call us Monday to Friday on 0808 808 1111

A laptop with Email on the screen.

Email us at [email protected]

Hands typing on a tablet keyboard.

Fill in our online form

This  Easy Read  was made with funding from the National Lottery Community Fund.