Last updated 9 November 2026 · Guidance checked for 2026/27.
The NHS Low Income Scheme UK application helps people facing NHS charges. The assessment looks at weekly income, essential needs and capital. An HC2 certificate gives full help with eligible costs, including prescriptions in England. An HC3 gives partial help with some costs.
If you’ve put off booking a dental check or replacing glasses because you don’t know what it will cost, start by checking the help you may already have. I’d do that before paying for a prescription certificate or setting money aside for a bill you might be able to reduce.
Below I’ll show you what to gather, which form to use and what to do if a bill arrives while you’re waiting. For a wider look at essential expenses, see my guide to UK grants and help with bills.
What is the NHS Low Income Scheme and who qualifies?
The scheme helps people on a low income with certain NHS costs. You can be working, self-employed, studying or retired. NHSBSA compares weekly income with assessed needs, such as eligible housing costs and Council Tax, and looks at savings and other capital. If you live with a partner, include their income, capital and circumstances too.
In England, the usual capital limit is £16,000, or £23,250 if you live permanently in a care home. Capital can include cash, savings accounts, investments and property other than where you live. List what you hold and let NHSBSA decide what counts. If your total is exactly on the care-home limit, confirm how it applies with NHSBSA before submitting.
You may already qualify for help through a benefit or exemption. Check help with NHS costs first. If you receive Universal Credit, entitlement can depend on your earnings and circumstances. My Universal Credit taper calculator can help with household budgeting, while the NHS checker is where to check health-cost entitlement.
Interactive HC1 capital checker for England
For England only. Include capital NHSBSA counts for you and any partner you live with. Leave out the home you live in. This checks the capital rule only. NHSBSA makes the full assessment.
The amount is used only in this calculator. Check the NHSBSA rules and application routes before applying.
The capital limit for the scheme and the limit for using the online form are separate. You might need to apply on paper even when the amount you have is within the scheme limit. The NHSBSA online application guidance lists the restrictions. The checker above applies to England. For local routes use NHS inform for Scotland, GOV.WALES or nidirect.
What costs does an HC2 or HC3 certificate cover?
| Cost | HC2 full help | HC3 limited help |
|---|---|---|
| NHS prescriptions in England | Free with a valid certificate. | Pay the charge unless you qualify separately. |
| NHS dental treatment | Free eligible NHS dental treatment. | Contribution shown on the certificate. |
| Sight tests, glasses and contacts | Free NHS sight tests and a voucher towards eligible glasses or contacts. | Limited help. The certificate amount can reduce the optical voucher. |
| Other eligible costs | Help with qualifying travel for NHS treatment and eligible NHS wigs and fabric supports. | Check the contribution and rules for the specific cost. |
Read the NHSBSA pages for HC2 full help and HC3 limited help. If you’re booking dental work, ask which parts are NHS treatment and which are private before you agree. At the optician, ask what the voucher covers and what you would pay for your chosen lenses and frames.
If you still pay for repeat medicines in England, compare the cost of your chargeable items with an NHS prescription prepayment certificate. Check any other exemptions before buying one. If you’re pregnant or recently gave birth, see my guide to pregnancy benefits and NHS entitlements.
How to fill out and submit your HC1 form
1. Choose your application route
Start at the official NHSBSA scheme page. If you can use the online route, follow its application link. Otherwise, use the country-specific paper HC1 instructions. In England you can download a form or order one by post. If you live permanently in a care home, ask which form applies to your circumstances.
2. Gather evidence before starting
Make a list of income for you and your partner, together with savings, investments and relevant housing costs. Gather payslips or self-employment records, any pension or benefit evidence, and paperwork showing rent, mortgage or Council Tax where requested. Follow NHSBSA’s guide for earners or its student guidance for the documents that match your situation.
Keep NHS evidence separate from any household worksheet. A household budget can help you find the bills you need to look up. Send supporting documents through the official application route and keep them out of public comments or ordinary budgeting tools.
3. Complete the form and submit it
Use your current circumstances. Include your partner’s details where the form asks for them, and check that the pay frequency matches the documents you’re supplying. If the form asks about housing costs, use the amounts you’re responsible for and explain anything the figures don’t show clearly.
For an online claim, review the answers before submitting and keep the confirmation. For a paper claim, check the declaration, enclose the evidence requested and send it to the address printed on your form. Keep a copy and a note of the date. NHSBSA assesses the circumstances when it receives the application.
4. Keep receipts while you wait
If you need treatment while your application is pending, check whether you already have a valid exemption. If you pay for an NHS prescription in England, ask for an FP57 receipt when you pay. The pharmacy cannot issue it later. For other eligible charges, keep receipts and follow the NHSBSA refund instructions, including the claim deadline and the right HC5 form.
You can apply for an eligible refund at the same time as the scheme. If the bill arrives when money is tight, see what to do when you can’t pay your bills for help sorting essential expenses.
5. Check the decision and expiry
When your decision arrives, check the certificate type, validity dates and any contribution shown. Keep the details handy for the pharmacy, dentist or optician. If something looks wrong, contact NHSBSA with your reference. Set a reminder before expiry so you can reapply in time if you still need help.
What I’d do first
I’d check existing entitlement, gather income and housing evidence, then use the official application route for my country. I’d also keep the refund paperwork if I had to pay while waiting. For other bills, my recurring payments guide and the MoneySavvyUK calculators can help with a separate household budget review.
NHS Low Income Scheme FAQs
What is the difference between an HC2 and HC3 certificate?
HC2 gives full help with eligible NHS health costs, including free NHS prescriptions in England, NHS dental treatment and NHS sight tests. Glasses and contact lenses are supported by an NHS optical voucher. HC3 gives limited help and shows what you have to contribute. HC3 alone does not cover prescriptions in England.
Can I apply for the NHS Low Income Scheme if I work?
Yes. NHSBSA can assess an application from someone in work or self-employment. It compares weekly income with assessed needs and checks capital. If you live with a partner, include their circumstances too. Gather the relevant wage or self-employment evidence before you start.
Where can I get an HC1 form?
Start with the NHSBSA paper application page. It links to the current forms for England, Scotland and Wales and directs Northern Ireland readers to nidirect. In England, you can download and print the form or ask for a copy by post. Follow the return address on your form.
Can I claim a refund while I wait for a decision?
You can apply for an eligible refund at the same time as your scheme application. For an NHS prescription in England, request an FP57 refund receipt when you pay. For other eligible NHS costs, follow the NHSBSA refund guidance and use the right HC5 form for the charge and country.
Can I renew my HC2 or HC3 certificate automatically?
If you still need help after your certificate expires, NHSBSA says to reapply. Check the dates on your certificate and leave time for a new assessment. Use the official application page to check whether you can apply online or need a paper form.
NHS Low Income Scheme UK summary
- Check whether you already qualify through a benefit or exemption.
- Use the capital checker as a first step, then apply through the route for your country.
- Read what your HC2 or HC3 covers and keep the refund paperwork if you pay while waiting.
Which part of the HC1 form would you like explained in more detail?
Sources and official forms
- NHSBSA scheme rules and online application
- NHSBSA paper HC1 forms and evidence
- NHS guide to the Low Income Scheme
- NHSBSA health-cost refunds
I’m not a financial adviser. This guide is general information about NHS costs. Read the financial disclaimer.
My Bills & Renewal Dashboard is an optional paid MoneySavvyUK planner for household bills and reminders.
About the author. Dr Kalpana Govindaraasan is the PhD scientist, former secondary science teacher and UK mum behind MoneySavvyUK. She has lived in the UK since 2008 and writes practical guides to household bills and budgeting.