Low income - 16 years old - NHS costs.

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 2025-10-14T19:21:31+00:00

DC earns a low apprenticeship wage £7.55ph Dc has applied for help with NHS charges and has received a reply that they are not entitled to any help at all. They will have to pay full dental, dr and eye care. AIBU to think this is wrong?

deedeemeloy · 14/10/2025 22:56

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/who-can-get-free-nhs-dental-treatment/

Who can get free NHS dental treatment or help with dental costs

Find out who can get free NHS dental appointments and treatments, or help with the cost of dental care.

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/who-can-get-free-nhs-dental-treatment/

deedeemeloy · 14/10/2025 22:55

All under 18s get free dental care, and then it extends to 19 if in full time education.
you only need to complete the hc2 certificate if you are claiming for low income. Your son isn’t, he is claiming free treatment as he is under 18 so his birth certificate is proof enough!

Mustreadabook · 14/10/2025 21:41

This is the page you need on the NHS website.
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/who-can-get-free-nhs-dental-treatment/
All under 18s get free treatment, and also it says that if the course of treatment was started when they were under 18 it is all free - sounds like braces may be free however long they last.
I think that the question you asked the NHS was wrong ie is he entitled to free dental treatment due to low income and they just told you the answer to that question, rather than is the actual question of is he entitled to free dental treatment for being under 18 (or at all!). Absolutely do not pay.

Who can get free NHS dental treatment or help with dental costs

Find out who can get free NHS dental appointments and treatments, or help with the cost of dental care.

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/who-can-get-free-nhs-dental-treatment

Chickenhorse · 14/10/2025 21:36

I take it back. OP.

Do apprentices pay for dental treatment?

AI Overview

Yes, apprentices may have to pay for dentist treatment as they are generally not entitled to free NHS dental care unless they meet the age and education criteria(under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education). Since apprenticeships are not considered full-time education, an apprentice over 18 would likely have to pay for treatment, though they may be eligible for help through the NHS Low Income Scheme or if their parents receive certain benefits.

Eligibility for free NHS dental treatment
You are entitled to free NHS dental treatment if you are under 18.
You are also entitled to free NHS dental treatment if you are under 19 and in full-time education.
Workplace apprenticeships are not considered full-time education for this purpose, so an apprentice over 18 will not automatically be exempt from charges.

So OP, actually an apprentice under 18 should not have to pay according to the NHS website.

I would contact the dentist to clarify.

MigGirl · 14/10/2025 21:27

I would ask your orthodontist about this. He may have to pay for his prescriptions, but we where told by the orthodontist that as DD had started her treatment on the NHS even when she turned 18 we wouldn't have to pay. Granted she was in full time education until 18, but they haven't charged us since she turned 18.

Original poster

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 14/10/2025 21:26

I’m confident now that his braces will be covered by his age, just need to phone them and clarity and confirm his correct details.

Normally I wouldn’t even care but we had a nightmare at the beginning of his journey with his braces, as initially we were advised incorrectly that we would need to pay for his treatment and we even made the 1st payment.

We then seen another orthodontist who advised his treatment would be covered due to his grading and we then waited 5 months for the refund.

OP posts:

Overthebow · 14/10/2025 21:26

He’s 16 though so still a child, surely if there are costs for his healthcare his parents pay? It shouldn’t be on him at 16 to be worrying about these costs.

Chickenhorse · 14/10/2025 21:22

I am afraid that as he is doing a full time apprenticeship, rather than at college full time. I think he has to pay, it is really unfair as he earns so little per hour.

Original poster

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 14/10/2025 21:16

Whytry · 14/10/2025 20:58

It has changed, apparently - according toy quick Google. No idea when!

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-prescription-costs/free-nhs-prescriptions

More to the point, if he's doing an apprenticeship, would he not count as full time education? Is he accredited to a university/college? I count as a full time student even though I'm only there max 2 days a week, and often not there for months at a time, because of course related placements.

It looks like that doesn't apply to dental treatment though, just prescriptions

Edited

This is what I’ve found as well and on googling it’s clear that the nhs don’t class apprenticeships in the same category as a full time student.

It’s silly really as children under the age of 18 legally required to be in education/apprenticeship until over the age of 18.

It’s the letter that we’ve received today that’s confused matters.

OP posts:

ThesebeautifulthingsthatIvegot · 14/10/2025 21:14

Whytry · 14/10/2025 20:58

It has changed, apparently - according toy quick Google. No idea when!

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-prescription-costs/free-nhs-prescriptions

More to the point, if he's doing an apprenticeship, would he not count as full time education? Is he accredited to a university/college? I count as a full time student even though I'm only there max 2 days a week, and often not there for months at a time, because of course related placements.

It looks like that doesn't apply to dental treatment though, just prescriptions

Edited

This seems reassuring, OP. So yes, he has to pay for prescriptions. But not dental treatment.

Whytry · 14/10/2025 20:58

It has changed, apparently - according toy quick Google. No idea when!

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-prescription-costs/free-nhs-prescriptions

More to the point, if he's doing an apprenticeship, would he not count as full time education? Is he accredited to a university/college? I count as a full time student even though I'm only there max 2 days a week, and often not there for months at a time, because of course related placements.

It looks like that doesn't apply to dental treatment though, just prescriptions

Original poster

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 14/10/2025 20:55

amicisimma · 14/10/2025 20:51

Have they/the dentist decided that the orthodontics are not clinically necessary, just cosmetic?

One of my DC qualified for free NHS orthodontic treatment, the other didn't, so I had to pay.

As they were both around GSCE and A level times, the private one worked out better in some ways (other than financial!) as there was no flexibility for NHS appointment times and sometimes we sat and waited for several hours to be seen, which meant quite a lot of school missed.

No, his dental treatment is not cosmetic, he has grade 5 overcrowding so qualified for nhs braces.

OP posts:

Original poster

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 14/10/2025 20:52

I should add, I phoned them today but as ds is 16 they wouldn’t divulge any information due to DPA (understandably) we will phone them on Saturday in the hope it’s all a mistake)

OP posts:

amicisimma · 14/10/2025 20:51

Have they/the dentist decided that the orthodontics are not clinically necessary, just cosmetic?

One of my DC qualified for free NHS orthodontic treatment, the other didn't, so I had to pay.

As they were both around GSCE and A level times, the private one worked out better in some ways (other than financial!) as there was no flexibility for NHS appointment times and sometimes we sat and waited for several hours to be seen, which meant quite a lot of school missed.

Original poster

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 14/10/2025 20:49

NewHat · 14/10/2025 20:40

Who is ‘they’?

And who told you it has changed?

Show quote history

He went to the pharmacy to collect his prescriptions last month, the lady on the counter noticed he had his work lanyard on and asked if he pays for his prescription, he said no as he was 16.

She was then advised the policy had changed and she told us about the HC1 form.

The letter I’ve attached is the nhs official letter we received today (attached the letter head)

OP posts:

Anewuser · 14/10/2025 20:47

As PP said, because he is under 18 and still in full time education (whilst it is an apprenticeship, he has to be in education until 18), NHS dental treatment is free.

InfoSecInTheCity · 14/10/2025 20:43

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/who-can-get-free-nhs-dental-treatment/

NewHat · 14/10/2025 20:40

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 14/10/2025 20:23

currently in their 1st year of NHS 3.5 year braces treatment and when we queried the treatment they have told him it will be 4k a year.

Who is ‘they’?

And who told you it has changed?

Original poster

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 14/10/2025 20:38

I’m so confused, the letter we’ve received states he needs to pay in full.

OP posts:

SlashBeef · 14/10/2025 20:38

Sounds like a mistake on their part. Write or call them and make sure they're aware he's under 18.

NewHat · 14/10/2025 20:37

Lolloped · 14/10/2025 20:30

Nhs dental treatment is free for under 18s.

That’s what I think.

Free for under eighteens and then free when you are nineteen and in education.

Original poster

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 14/10/2025 20:36

Yes, NHS referral for braces when he was 14, got them fitted when he was 15 (he’s just turned 16) and we have received the letter today he will have to pay full dental costs.

Attached the letter we’ve received today.

OP posts:

Lolloped · 14/10/2025 20:30

Nhs dental treatment is free for under 18s.

Sunshineandrainbow · 14/10/2025 20:29

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 14/10/2025 20:23

currently in their 1st year of NHS 3.5 year braces treatment and when we queried the treatment they have told him it will be 4k a year.

So he started free brace treatment and now he has to pay?
Doesn't seem right if so.

My dd started braces at 15 and didn't have to pay even when she started having to pay for prescriptions due to earning too much on her 10 hour a week job to fit around uni!

Sunshineandrainbow · 14/10/2025 20:29

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 14/10/2025 20:23

currently in their 1st year of NHS 3.5 year braces treatment and when we queried the treatment they have told him it will be 4k a year.

So he started free brace treatment and now he has to pay?
Doesn't seem right if so.

My dd started braces at 15 and didn't have to pay even when she started having to pay for prescriptions due to earning too much on her 10 hour a week job to fit around uni!