IB

Why do people receiving IB have to pay for their prescriptions? It seems crazy to me that if you are in receipt of JSA you can have free prescriptions. Surely, if you're receiving IB you are more likely to be ill and on medication and incapable of working. I have to have ten items and none of them are free.

Has anyone else raised this question before.

Janice
Sullivan wrote:

Why do people receiving IB have to pay for their prescriptions? It seems crazy to me that if you are in receipt of JSA you can have free prescriptions. Surely, if you're receiving IB you are more likely to be ill and on medication and incapable of working. I have to have ten items and none of them are free.

Has anyone else raised this question before.

People on IB do not always have to pay for their prescriptions, although there is no automatic right as with IS, income-based JSA and ESA.

If you have a low income you can apply for help with health costs on form HC1. The form isn't available online, but it can be obtained from doctors' surgeries and also dentists and opticians.

A decision will be made as to whether you can qualify for full help in which case you will be entitled to free prescriptions, or partial help with health costs which unfortunately doesn't help with prescription costs, but can reduce the costs of dental treatment, optical aids and even wigs!

You can see that in the daily mail. 'idle incapacity malingerers coin it in with free wigs and dentures' while hard working families get by with bald heads and false teeth

...and false teeth.

Should that not read sore gums!

exactly... thats much better !

Move to Wales - prescriptions are free for all

I am on IB and got partial help through the HC1, no free prescriptions but partial help with specs & dentist, so better than nothing.