am i entitled to a free eye test or do i have to pay?

[tweenyb]

hiya

im currently on employment and support allowance (contribution based no income basesd)
do i have to pay for my eye tests?

many thanks xx

[tonyav]

I don't think that you have to pay if you are claiming ESA.

[hc4361]

You have to pay as you are not in receipt of income based ESA.
http://www.nhs.uk/chq...=68&SubCategoryID=157

[ChuckFickens]

All large Tesco stores with opticians in them are offering free eye tests to anyone at the moment.

[tonyav]

Well i didn't have to pay in Feb just gone, I was on contribution based ESA.

[ojread2]

try this

http://www.nhs.uk/nhs...rescriptioncosts.aspx

[clw1981]

If you are on Income Support; JSA; ESA; DLA and a couple of other benefits then you should not have to pay for the eye test. However, if like me you are on Incapacity Benefit then you have to pay for eye tests; prescriptions (medical exemption etc are available) and various other things.

[hc4361]

clw1981. If you are on contribution-based ESA you have to pay. If you are on income-based ESA you don't.

You are also entitled to free prescriptions if you or your partner (including civil partners), receive either:

* Income Support
* Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
* Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
* Pension Credit Guarantee Credit; or
* you are named on, or are entitled to (use your award notice as evidence), an NHS tax credit exemption certificate
* you are named on a valid HC2 certificate, see below.

[LoftyLottie]

You were lucky Tonyav! You defintely have to pay if on Contribution Based ESA.

[factor-fiction]

Dot Hawkes may like to answer this one.
If it's like JSA then you will have to pay. I was on contribution based JSA and found I had to pay for prescriptions, eye tests and dental treatment out of my £64 a week, as well as paying full council tax, mortgage etc and supporting kids through uni.
When I was queuing with six others to pay for my prescription I noticed that i was the only person there who had to pay.