GP halved my prescriptions without warning, now paying double per month

[Redimpulse]

I've recently had my two medications halved by the GP. One prescription has gone from 30 to 15 tablets and the other from 28 to 14 tablets. I wasn't consulted about this and had no warning. It also means I'm basically paying almost £40 for what was almost £20! I'm house bound so not able to work and don't get any benefits so am paying out of my savings. Is this actually legal, it seems they can make up the rules as they go along, has this happened to anyone else? I was livid when I found out.

I live with my partner who works full time and I was told because of this I wouldn't be able to get benefits.

You likely wouldn't get anything means tested but could look at contributions based ( new style ) ESA if you have stopped work in the last 2-3 years. The tax years they would look at now for NI contributions would be 2024-25 and 2023-24. You could also look at PIP which is a non means tested disability benefit based on functional ability.

But you can still buy the pre payment certificate which will solve the issue in your OP.

What is LcW?

Why would you think it was illegal?

Limited capability for work which is something you can be awarded on Universal credit or ESA you are deemed unfit to work after a work capability assessment.

Yes they've just reduced the tablets. I've been cutting them into quarters now so I don't run out. It's an antidepressant and sleeping tablet.

Yes it looks like I will have to do this.

Yes so as everyone has said, get a prepayment set up

@Redimpulse limited capability for work. You might still get some universal credit due to your disability. Also you can get personal independence payments. Talk to the citizens advice bureau or your local benefits advice team x good luck x

@Redimpulse i might be wrong so please check ✔️

Are you housebound because of a physical condition? If you have a physical disability which means you cannot go out without the help of another person, you are eligible for a prescription exemption certificate. If you aren’t eligible for this, get a pre-payment certificate.

PIP isn’t means tested, apply for that.

Re-look at UC, you might still be eligible even if DP works.

Unlikey ( but not impossible) to get UC with a working husband. It would depend on his earnings, joint savings , dependents, rent etc.
Op use an online benefits calculator.

You've been given duff advice about benefits. Talk to your GP, get the pre-payment certificate and go see someone at CAB or any other advice service.

I’d imagine it’s been done because of what you said to your GP (she was unsympathetic to tell you not to be silly) x

You’ve told the GP you feel suicidal so they have probably reduced the amount you’ve received in one go to reduce the risk of overdose. However they should have discussed this with you.

sounds like you should have bought a PPC before now though due to costs.

It isn’t necessarily unlikely. It would be more than just a small proportion who would still be eligible. Assuming OP or DP is over 25, if OP got LCWRA, her DH could earn more than £2.5k per month and still be eligible. He could earn even more if OP receives the daily living component of PIP and her DH has the carer element of UC &/or they rent &/or have DC on their claim.

LCWRA is halving from April.

Not for all. Not for what are being called pre-2026 claimants (which actually includes some claimants who haven’t yet been awarded UC’s LCWRA element and some who haven’t yet claimed UC), those who meet the severe conditions criteria or those terminally ill.

I have seen these sorts of threads before where people are claiming they are paying £££ every month and everyone suggests a pre payment certifcate and it all goes quiet.

Isnt it well known that is the solution?

The sleeping tablet is probably because it would be unusual to get a monthly supply on repeat. So someone just decided. Very frustrating, I hope you get sorted

It will be a risk thing. My doctor will give me a different length prescription depending on his assessment of the risk. When the risk is higher and my mental health is more unstable, I have been on weekly prescriptions before (which is a pain). It sounds like they’ve moved you from monthly to twice-weekly, presumably because the doctor is not comfortable with you having that quantity of sleeping tablets (most likely) in your possession. I appreciate it has a big impact on costs though.

I guess not everyone knows but they are a very good deals if you are on a few meds. There is also the £20 for a year for HRT prescriptions in case anyone doesn't know about that ! It has halved my costs for a years HRT.

OMG! Please see a different GP. That is absolutely awful. I would actually complain about that too.

My psychiatrist gave me a good tip to find out who the kindest GP is - according to her, you ask who is best at dealing with anxiety.

There is a GP at my surgery who says that sort of thing - she asked me why I was stressed and I said it was due to a legal problem (member of family being taken to court). I I was expecting her to say something like “no wonder you feel bad….. have you thought of trying x, y or z.” Instead she said “I can’t give legal advice.” I then felt very insulted because I then assumed that she thought I was too dumb to know the difference between a doctor and a solicitor. Plus I was very disappointed that she didn’t do anything to help.

The GP. I usually see is absolutely lovely and would never say that.

If you were paying £20 a month before this then you’ve been paying double what you needed to even before this. I believe you can even pay for the cert over 10 months if the sum is too much to find in one go. Has nobody at the dispensary suggested a prepayment certificate before now? As soon as I went on to two prescription items on my repeat prescription, the dispensary at my surgery told me about it. Anyway, you know now that you only need to be paying about £10 per month however many times you fill your repeat script every year.