Universal Credit
(asked on 9th October 2026) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has made an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the effectiveness of information provided to people on Universal Credit to ensure they understand eligibility rules for free prescriptions, dental care and eye care; and if she will take steps to update (a) posters in pharmacies, dentist clinics and optometrist clinics and (b) wording on Universal Credit self-certification forms to clarify such eligibility criteria.
The following table shows the number of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued for 2024/25 and 2025/26 where Universal Credit was claimed as the exemption from the charge for prescriptions or dental treatment:
Financial year | Service | Number of PCNs |
2024/25 | Dental exemption checking | 116,099 |
2025/26 | Dental exemption checking | 150,387 |
2024/25 | Prescription exemption checking | 73,239 |
2025/26 | Prescription exemption checking | 228,957 |
Source: NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA).
Notes:
- the data held by NHS BSA does not show if a patient is in receipt of Universal Credit, only if it was the exemption claimed for the prescription or dental treatment; and
- data is not held for eye care.
The Universal Credit statement informs claimants that they may be entitled to help with certain National Health Service health costs. It does not provide a personalised assessment of entitlement, and claimants are directed to NHS guidance and processes to confirm eligibility.
NHS BSA produces digital resources, social media content, easy-read documents, printable posters and leaflets for stakeholders to share with the public to explain exemptions from NHS charges. NHS BSA also signpost patients to the NHS BSA's "Check Before You Tick" tool, enabling them to verify their entitlement before claiming an exemption.