ESA - basic query

Am about to begin Mandatory reconsideration as the powers that be now feel I am no longer in need of ESA - going to gp today to go back on antidepressants - can I still claim free prescription or do I need to pay

Hi Jeanette

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Regarding your query about prescription charges - it doesn't really come within the remit of the forum, I do know that it's possible to obtain a prepayment certificate - your chemist will advise you on this; some diseases are automatically entitled to free prescription (diabetes etc); I don't know what the position is with regard to low income - you'd perhaps have to approach either your chemist or an advisory such as CAB if that is your reason for non-payment.

Sorry not to be of more help; possibly other Mods, or contributors to the site would be able to tell you better?

to clarify can I still get free prescription while appealing - does anyone know.
Not really looking to the future can only cope with one day at a time

I'm afraid you are no longer on ESA, so cannot claim free prescriptions for that reason. You can ask for a receipt from the pharmacy and the money you pay will be refunded if you then qualify on the grounds of low income.

I assume you must have been in income-related ESA if you were claiming free prescriptions (contributory does not qualify), are you on any other benefits? People in receipt of housing benefit will find that this stops as the department is notified by DWP that ESA has finished. In this case it is usually possible to make another claim for HB on the grounds of low income, but you would have to action this yourself.

Not 100% certain but I think income based JSA entitles the recipient to free prescriptions.

Susan

Thank you and I think you may be right