To think long term ill teenagers shouldn’t have to pay prescription charges because they’re not in school

[RainingFr0gs]

Dh just picked up medication for ds who is too ill to attend school this year and he had to pay the charge.

Not getting why attending school is deemed more worthy and a barrier to paying than being ill is.

[movingonup20]

Pip doesn't mean free prescriptions (though the payment more than covers them) esa is for those unable to study or work

[moosemama]

You can ‘try’ and claim PIP, but it’s an uphill battle, even with clear medical evidence. Alongside fighting for educational needs to be met and caring for a sick child, it all just becomes overwhelming and there is little or no support to help you navigate all this crap.

Things were bad enough before all the CV19 complications, but it’s almost impossible to get hold of anybody or get answers/information at the moment and when you do get hold of someone, 99.9% of the time they don’t understand the system themselves.

I have two PIP applications to do, one for my child with ‘medical needs’ the other for one with SEND who has just turned 18 and is in education/training and even reading the forms is daunting.

[bookmum08]

Vicious that's what I meant. To me the OPs son should be able to claim PIP (although I know many people get turned down). He has a long term illness so definitely a claim should be tried.

[ViciousJackdaw]

@bookmum08

PIP is Personal Independence Payment. For people who have an illness or disability and can't work or attend school.

People in work/education absolutely CAN claim PIP. It is there to cover the costs that illness or disability might incur and is not a means tested benefit. Sorry to nitpick but I'd hate for someone to think they couldn't claim.

[movingonup20]

If he's off school/college due to illness/disabilities then esa is possible, it is not means tested against the household income but you cannot also claim child benefit at the same time.

[dragonwing]

DS got an HC2 certificate for being on a low income when he left school, although that was from age 18. They didn't take into account parental income, it was just based on his own income (which was nil). Just downloaded the HC1 form here and sent it off. Covered prescriptions, dental treatment, opticians etc. You can get a refund on prescriptions you've already paid, as long as you got a receipt.

He's had high rate DLA since he was 5 and enhanced rate PIP since he was 16. No issues getting it as he was at a special school with an EHCP. He's 21 now and gets PIP, UC with LCWRA and a small p/t wage.

[DarkMintChocolate]

DD would have been too incapacitated for education, but as she already had a statement (later EHC plan), she was able to attend a specialist residential school and college, with an onsite medical centre with consultants, registrars and nurses 24/7. If she was too tired for school, they could take her back to the residential house for a sleep; or if they were worried about her to the medical centre.

So, she had DLA already and then she could claim ESA from 16 and EMA. EMA was still available for disabled students over 16 with DLA and ESA - the school got a grant of around £1,200 which they spent on software, an I Pad and a camera for her. The school applied for the medical exemption certificate for us. (They had their own pharmacy, as they must have had drugs delivered by the van load)

Even so, we commented to her consultant after she left, that she was way better - full time education was too much for her. (We had asked for a reduced timetable for her, but they ignored us!) He said too much emphasis was put on education for some people.

It looks like getting an EHC plan, social care assessment and DLA before they get to 16 is key?

Do any of your DC qualify for Continuing Healthcare Funding? Where is the Transition planning by Social Services?

[moosemama]

We are in the same position, 16-18 is a black hole for so many things if your dc has SEND or incapacitating illness.

My 16 year old ds has been too ill for school for a couple of years. He was still on roll and being tutored at home by the LA until lockdown, but entitlement to home tutoring ends at 16, unless an EHCP is in place. Of course our LA spent the whole of last year fighting us and refusing to assess, so now he’s NEET, while we continue the fight.

I only twigged re prescriptions when his needed renewing, as he has always 3 month’s worth delivered via a service from a children’s hospital, which of course is also no longer the case, as he has been moved to adult care.

You also lose child benefit for them, as they are no longer in full-time education.

Basically , if your child is medically unable to attend an educational setting full-time, post 16 they disappear and are no-longer anyone’s priority. LA’s are supposed to have a NEET team to follow up and help these cases in relation to education but, in reality, we had one emailed form to fill in and as he is too unwell to physically attend education, they just say ‘let us know when he’s better’ (which he won’t be) and leave it at that.

Other teens in the same situation, due to the same conditions as my son, are routinely refused PIP and don’t get anywhere without a monumental battle, involving tribunals. If we do that we will have to simultaneously go to tribunal for that and his education, whilst already caring for a sick teen 24/7. (Apparently they don’t need PIP, as their parents can care for them, because they are still children, yet for everything else they are considered adults and qualify for nothing if they are not in full-time education, which the LA refuse to provide because the are now over 16 - and round we go!) Everyone tells you to apply for PIP, but none of them realise what a massive fight that is, especially when you are already dealing with so much.

It’s an absolute disgrace, but no-one is interested.

[bookmum08]

PIP is Personal Independence Payment. For people who have an illness or disability and can't work or attend school.

[bookmum08]

PIP is Personal Independence Payment. For people who have an illness or disability and can't work or attend school.

[RainingFr0gs]

Don’t think he’d be eligible for the exemption certificate.

What is PIP?

[PrivateD00r]

Yes OP, I agree with you that it isn't fair. I wonder if its just a wee loophole that needs highlighted to your MP? I would definitely urge him to have a go at applying for PIP. I hope he makes a full recovery soon

[TheDuchessofMalfy]

Tbh I remember when no one paid for prescriptions, which I think was a better arrangement.

[TheSparkling]

Unfortunately the system does not support children who are too ill to attend school when they are not register with an education provider.

My DD became ill in year 11 and didn't finish school then needed another year out so no college. Not only did she not receive free prescriptions I lost tax credits and child benefit for her.
It just seems that there is no allowance in the system for children who are too ill to attend school or college.

[scissy]

Does he qualify for medical exemption?
The list is on this page www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/exemption-certificates/medical-exemption-certificates then it's a form the GP has to sign off.

[DarkMintChocolate]

Yes, as I was only talking about teenagers with disabilities, I assumed parents would have applied for DLA.

[JanMeyer]

Full time students get put in the support group - ie they don’t have to go through a Work Capability Assessment.

That's only if the person is in reciept of DLA or PIP at the middle rate or higher.

[BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou]

I’m afraid it’s unlikely that OPs son would qualify for free prescriptions under the Low income rules. Our DD applied when she was at university but until she was 21 her income didn’t matter, it was based on parent income and now she is over 21 (studying for MA) she still doesn’t qualify as the amount I pay for her rent counts as income!

[DarkMintChocolate]

I would put in a claim for ESA or universal credit with permission from DS, depending on which one applies to your area and see what happens? Young people, aged 16 or 17, not in education can get ESA or universal credit in some cases, according to the government website.

[BigRedBoat]

I though 16 year olds could claim universal credit if they cannot work for health reasons?

[PremierInn]

Has he been refused esa and the low income exemption already?

[bookmum08]

Also some medications are free whatever you're age and if you have an exemption certificate for that med it covers any other meds too. For example my husband gets metaforim (?) which qualifies him for the exemption certificate so if he is prescribed an unrelated med (antibiotics for example) he gets that free too.
Pharmacists don't always tell you if you're meds would qualify for the exemption certificate so it would be good to check.

[bookmum08]

I would talk to your pharmacist. It's bad that the 16 - 18 year olds who aren't in school/college or work for whatever reason are stuck in this limbo of 'too young for benefits'.
Alternatively is there a way of getting him on the school roll so on paper he is 'at school'.

[Toomboom]

Unfortunately it is just how it is. My son has a chronic long term illness requiring monthly medication -- none of this is free. He has a pre payment certificate costing around £10/12 a month, so works out considerably cheaper than paying per item.

[RainingFr0gs]

Over 16 and not on school roll.

Not fair we have to pay for pre pay when his twin who is in school and not ill gets everything free.