Help With Dental Charges

Dentists and the NHS

If you qualify for help with dental costs, it is important that your dentist accepts NHS patients. Check this beforehand as many dentists do not.

Who gets help with NHS dental charges?

If you are in any of the following groups, you do not pay dental charges. You just need to sign the appropriate form at the dentist's surgery following a dental check or treatment.

• Children and young people under 18, and those under 19 in full-time education at the start of treatment. (People living in Wales aged under 25, or 60 or over, get free dental checks - but not free treatment.)
• Women who are pregnant when treatment starts and those who have had a child in the last 12 months. (You need to show form MAT B1.)
• People and their dependants who receive Income Support or Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Pension Credit Guarantee Credit.
• NHS in-patients and out-patients for treatment carried out by the hospital dental service. (But there may be a charge for dentures and bridges.)
• People who are Community Dental Service patients. (But there may be a charge for dentures and bridges.)
• If you have an NHS tax credit exemption certificate.
• Some war pensioners - If treatment is connected with the pensionable disability.
• People on a low income who have a certificate HC2 (see below). If you have an HC3 certificate you may get some help towards the cost of dental treatment.

How do people on a low income apply for help with dental charges?

Some people on a low income may qualify for help with health costs such as NHS dental charges. Your entitlement to help is based on your circumstances such as your level of income, savings, etc. Use form HC1 'Claim for help with health costs'. See below on how to get this form. You have to fill in the form giving various details of your circumstances. If your application is successful, you will receive either certificate HC2 or HC3.

• Certificate HC2 means that you will not need to pay the following health costs: prescription charges; NHS dental charges; eye tests, glasses and contact lenses; travel to hospital for NHS treatment; wigs and fabric supports.
• Certificate HC3 provides partial help with some of these health costs.

Certificates are usually valid for six months. If your circumstances remain unchanged after six months then, if necessary, you should make a new claim before the current certificate expires.

How can I claim a refund for a dental charge I have already paid?

If you are issued with certificate HC2 or HC3, you may be able to claim a refund if you have recently paid for a dental check or treatment. Claims must be received within three months of your paying the charge. Ask for a receipt - you will need it to claim. Use claim form HC5.

How can I get the claim forms?

To get the forms HC1 or HC5 mentioned above:

• contact your local office of the Department of Work and Pensions (the local Jobcentre Plus or 'social security' office) for a claim form. Find your local office in the phone book under 'Jobcentre Plus', OR
• get them from an NHS hospital, OR
• your dentist or optometrist (optician) may stock them, OR
• phone the NHS Responseline: 08701 555 455 and ask for a form to be sent to you.

How can I find out more?

Further information

This leaflet only gives a brief summary of help with dental costs and is for guidance only. It does not cover all situations nor is it a full statement of the law. The official information booklet HC11 'Help with health costs' provides more details. Your local Jobcentre Plus office, NHS hospital, pharmacist, doctor, dentist or optician may have leaflet HC11.

The leaflet HC11 is also available on the internet. Go to the Department of Health's website - www.dh.gov.uk - and search for HC11.

Benefit Enquiry Line - BEL

England, Wales and Scotland - Tel: 0800 88 22 00 Textphone: 0800 24 33 55
Northern Ireland - Tel: 0800 220 674 Textphone: 0800 243 787
For people with disabilities, their carers and representatives. It is part of the Department for Work and Pensions. BEL offers confidential advice and information on benefits and how to claim them. In addition they can also send out an extensive range of leaflets and claim packs, and help you to complete a claim form over the phone.

Directgov

Web: www.direct.gov.uk
Directgov brings together the widest range of public service information and services online.
Produced by the Central Office of Information, Directgov provides information from across UK government departments on topics ranging from travel safety and parental leave, to special educational needs, local NHS services, and benefits. The site also brings together an increasing number of online government services - including being able to download and/or complete certain benefit claim forms online.

Citizens Advice Bureau

Provides independent advice on many issues including benefits. Listed in the phone book under 'Citizens Advice Bureaux'. Also, see their excellent website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk