Universal credits and dental fine......

[Madeamistake21]

Hi So I have been really silly and made a mistake, had 2 fillings in June and July. I was on Tax credits but switched to UC last year, didn't even think about the exemption certificate. My dentist always asked if i/m still on UC to which I say yes and they never charge me.

Today I got a letter about free dental treatment and having to pay a fine if I am i am in the wrong. I am going to email them tonight explaining and apologising, obviously I will pay for the treatment if I need to.

I also recently had my eyes tested and bought 2 new pairs of glasses, the lady asked if I received any benefits and I said UC.

I am now in a right panic and feel so stupid. Does anyone have any advice please or been in similar situation?

Do you have an exemption certificate now?

Do you get full UC? There is a threshold within it if you work. It's very low to be exempt for stuff.

It depends on how much you earn. Try completing this and see if it helps.

check-for-help-paying-nhs-costs.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/start

No I dont have an exemption certificate and after reading I dont think I qualify even though my earnings are still low.

Oh dear, what am I going to do

I am in the process of writing an email to them😥

You will just have to pay the fines OP. I’d reach out to the optician’s now though.

What do I say to the opticians?

I would write to the dentist and be honest that you made a mistake and didn’t realise the earning threshold was so low on UC and you assumed it was the same as on Tax Credits. They’ll probably ask you to pay the cost plus the fine:(

I’d also call the opticians and let them know.

You won’t be the first to have this problem.

Do I not need to email NHS?

I got 2 pairs of glasses and they gave me various vouchers off as they said that would be better than the standard buy one get one free

Go back to the opticians and say you've realised you're not exempt. Then just pay for what you got. I'd probably try doing that with the dentist as well tbh.

It won't be the first time it's happened. Not everyone realises there's a threshold within UC. People just assume it covers it.

What about the PCN fine? I will ring dentist and opticians tomorrow

You have to pay the fine if you’re not exempt yes.

Thanks everyone.

Is it better I email NHS and own up or wait for for the charge to come through by end of september?

The letter says
"If you cannot confirm you had a valid reason to claim free or reduced cost NHS dental treatment and exceptional circumstances do not apply by 25th sept you'll be sent a penalty charge. You will be asked to pay the original NHS dental charge, plus a penalty charge of up to £100"

Is there a number you can call them? I would try to get it over and done with but I guess if you wait until the end of September it gives you a bit more time to find the money to pay it.

I want it sorted asap so either I email NHS and explain or call the dentist tomorrow and see what they say first?

Exceptional circumstances do apply though - you have been migrated from tax credits to UC and no one explained what would happen. Ask Citizens Advice for help to ensure you don't get the fine. You will have to pay what you owe but the fine would be unreasonable.

Hi OP
I have made this mistake before.
Although with a prescription.
I can understand how you made the mistake though. Agree that when you go to opticians certainly the only question they ask is 'are you on benefits/UC?' they think if you're on UC then you get free glasses or whatever it is, but it's not that simple is it. Thankfully by the time I went to the opticians I knew better so I had to tell them. They had no clue but said they'll remember it for the future. I can see why people can get mislead.

I did ring them and explain it was a mistake and explained how the mistake happened but he basically said the Fine had to stay. But he was very nice. But you can spread it over many months so it's only a small amount each month.

Thank you.
Im wondering if I will get a fine for dentist and opticians?
Ive drafted an email to send to NHS so shall I send it or shall I ring dentist tomorrow?

You may have to pay a fine for the dentist and opticians. I know the system does checks every now and again and that's how it finds out. But i'm not sure if it checks every single transaction that happens so if it's random then you might not get a fine for both.

was the letter sent from your dentist or from the nhs business service authority?

I was wondering this too as I had dentist before this date and theres no mention of that....

From NHS business services authority

Same thing happened to me years ago op when I was on tax credits, I didn’t realise there was a cut off when your children were over a certain age. I had to pay a fine but they were very understanding.

Reply to the letter using the contact details given, explain you have migrated and didn’t know better.

it is nothing to do with the dentist at this point as they have been covered by the nhs, you have to reimburse the nhs the cost of the treatment and the fine.

The threshold hasn’t moved with the UC increases and min wage increases. It means people who used to be entitled to it no longer are, despite their circumstances not actually being better off in real terms, and it is catching people out. I hope you manage to sort it out.

this also happened to me when I migrated from tax credits to UC. I didn’t realise the threshold for free dental treatment changes. The bastard govt don’t warn you about this when you change over. They got me 3 times in succession claiming free prescriptions - all unknowingly innocent on my part. I tried to explain that I was unaware of the change of rule but they don’t give a toss. Got whacked for 3 separate fines of £100 each. my advice is pay the minimum: about £10-12 per month per fine.