Help with health costs

NHS sight tests

(Group 1)
You can get free sight tests if you:

• are under 16
• are 16-18 and in full-time education
• are 60 or over 
• are a diagnosed glaucoma patient
• have been advised by an ophthalmologist that you are at risk of glaucoma
• are 40 or over and are a parent, brother, sister, son or daughter of a diagnosed glaucoma patient
• have been diagnosed as diabetic
• are registered as blind or partially sighted
• have been prescribed certain complex lenses, such as certain types of bifocal, or powerful lenses
• are someone whose sight test is carried out through the hospital eye department as part of the management of your eye condition

(Group 2)
You are also entitled to free sight tests 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 entitled to (use your award notice as evidence), an NHS tax credit exemption certificate, or
• you are named on a valid HC2 certificate (full healp with health costs).

Find out more about the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS).

Partial help: if you are named on a valid HC3 certificate (limited help) you might get some help towards the cost of a private sight test.

If you have a low income the NHS Low Income Scheme may help you. To apply for an HC2 certificate, you should complete form HC1 available from Jobcentre Plus offices or most NHS hospitals. Your doctor, dentist or optician may have one too. You can also get an HC1 by calling 0845 610 1112 .

You will qualify for a full help HC2 certificate (which includes free NHS prescriptions), if your income is less than or equal to your requirements, or your income is greater than your requirements by no more than half the current English prescription charge.

You will qualify for a limited help HC3 certificate if your income is greater than your requirements by more than half the current English prescription charge. The HC3 certificate shows how much you have to pay towards your health costs.

Certificates are usually valid for periods of between 6 months to 5 years, depending on your circumstances.

Find out more about the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS).

You are entitled to vouchers towards the cost of  glasses or contact lenses if

• you are under 16, or
• aged 16-18 and in full-time education, or
• in group 2 above.

If your glasses or contact lenses cost more than your voucher value, you will have to pay the difference.

Partial help: if you are named on a valid HC3 certificate (limited help)you might get some help towards the cost of your glasses or contact lenses.

For deatailed information download leaflet HC12 - charges and optical voucers (PDF).

When you go for your sight test, tell the optician if you are entitled to a free NHS sight test and ask for form GOS1 to apply for it.

If you have a valid HC3 certificate, show it to the optician and ask if you are entitled to any help with the cost of your private sight test. You apply for this help on form GOS5.

If you are entitled to an optical voucher, ask about this when you have your sight test.

Sight test fees

Ask the person who tests your sight for a receipt that shows that you paid for the test and the date of payment. Complete an HC5 claim form for optical charges (PDF).

Glasses or contact lenses

If you have already used a voucher towards the cost of your glasses or lenses, you cannot get a refund unless it was a “complex lens” voucher. Nor can you claim a refund of the difference between the voucher value and the actual cost of your glasses or lenses, even if they cost more than the voucher value.

If you want to claim a refund, ask the person who supplies your glasses or contact lenses for a receipt that shows how much you paid plus the date of payment. Complete an HC5 refund form and make sure you enclose your optical prescription and your receipt with your HC5 when you send it off.  The maximum refund you can get back will be the voucher value which matches your prescription.

Lost or damaged glasses or contact lenses

If your glasses or contact lenses have been lost or damaged and you pay for replacement or repairs, you will only be considered for a refund if you are entitled to a voucher.

More detailed information is in leaflet HC12 - charges and optical vouchers (PDF), which is available to download here or can