Help with UC and free prescriptions, what does child mean?

[universalcredithelpplease]

Stupid question on the face of it, but I'm really scared around this stuff.

Up to now we've paid for a pre-payment certificate for prescriptions. We have a lot (I have 4 lots of meds for MH, 5 lots for asthma, and others for cholesterol etc, DH has them for physical illness). So paying upfront a fixed fee was a no brainer.

Our certificate run out the beginning of September and we need to collect more.

We started a claim last month for UC, after being migrated from tax credits. This unfortunately happened to coincide with DH being made redundant.

We've just had our first assessment period and they've calculated that DH took home £700 (I guess this is redundancy as he hasn't worked).

There is a bit about free prescriptions, but it says you can only get them if you take home less than £435 or £900(ish), if you have a child you care for, or a child element.

We have a 14yr old DC who is included in our claim. Does this count as the child element or do they mean if you have a child under school age?

TIa

TLDR - if your assessment period says you took home £700 and you can get free prescriptions if you took home under £435 or £900 if you have a child element, what would we fall under if we have a 14yr old on our claim?

I've added a bit from the NHSBSA, but want to be sure I'm reading it right, as the UC page said a child you care for, which is confusing me

Anyone?

Could you ask the pharmacist? Do you have interactions with social workers they be able to explain.
Would the job center be able to explain? ( I'm not sure where benefits are calculated, so that is why I thought job center)

Yes you have a child on your claim, so you get a child element.

Have you read elsewhere this only counts for children under school age?

"Universal Credit will include the extra amount for your children until: the end of August following each child's 16th birthday, or. the end of August after their 19th birthday for each child still living at home and in eligible education or training."

You are fine.

Thank you all.

I put a note on the journal for DH's work coach, but she didn't know.

I haven't got social workers.

I don't know why I thought it was children under school age, I think it was because it said looking after a child, so assumed that it was for children under school age.

I get so nervous dealing with things like this.

Thanks again.

It's under 19 if in full time education.

Redundancy payments should not be included in income but are part of the £16,000 in savings you are allowed.

But things like outstanding holiday pay, his final salary payment or
'payment in lieu,' if he got a payment to cover his notice period will all count as income.

Yes you can claim it.