NHS Optical Vouchers

[suzanne108]

I'm entitled to Optical Vouchers with my exemption certificate. Does anyone know anything about them?

Like how much they are worth? Is it different for different people and if so what does it depend on?

I'm so glad because I desperately need new glasses but my lenses alone cost me £180

 

[emilyjade]

i got told i wasnt with mine

 

[Logan's Mum]

My work involves working out whether people are entitled to money off their glasses i.e. whether they can have a voucher value deducted off the cost off glasses/contacts.
The voucher is a value based on your optical prescription, your optitian should be able to tell you how much it is based on that. It usually covers the lenses (including all additions for medical reasons, not like tints for sunglasses). It doesnt cover the frames, although some optitians (D and A is one) have glasses which are free if you have an exemption certificate. It covers contacts too, although the way its worked out is slightly different
Hope this helps!

 

[Caroline]

emilyjade I'm guessing its a family tax credit exemption card suzanne has entitling her to help. The maternity exemption card does not entitle u to help. Hope this clears up confusion.

Suzanne, its worth shopping around, as op states value depends on your prescription. I work for specsavers & you either get 2 for 1 offer & voucher is deducted from cost @ face value or you can have one pair & they "top up" the voucher, so u can get a designer pair with standard lenses for around £50 then pay extra for thinner lenses which start around £40 I think. I'm not 100% sure due to baby brain (am on mat leave @ mo) and I test eyes rather than dispense glasses so don't get too involved (I normally use my price list on wall lol to quote approx cost).

You can get eyes tested anywhere & take your voucher to whichever optician u want for your specs.

 

[suzanne108]

Thanks ladies

I usually go to Specsavers, they have the best range of frames I think.

I pay £180 to have the lenses made thinner...I'm soooooo blind that I have to choose the most expensive option so that they are as thin as poss. They are still quite thick lol but luckily the big plastic frames are "in" so they are easily hidden!

I have seen two pairs in the BOGOF offer at SS that I want but still need to pay for each pair of lenses and one frame so would be I dunno....£450-£500

I was going to dip into my savings and get them anyway, I wear them all the time so I can justify it but if I can get a little money off it'd be great!

And yeah I think its because I'm a single parent and get the highest band of tax credits

 

[Caroline]

poor you, if lenses very thick then should get at least £50 towards cost.

Is £180 what u paid last time. If it is then lenses have come down in price since Jan.

Hope u get some nice glasses sorted & it doesn't break the bank.

 

[Linzi]

I think its a free eye test or £20 off glasses? I dont know though for certain x

 

[Caroline]

Its free eye test plus vouchr towards cost, amount varies normally £30(ish) for general prescription, but higher prescriptions get a bit more can be upto £100 if very very bad.

 

[ladyjayne]

Im at the other end of the vouchers and I pay them from the NHS. You get given a banding which entitles you to a certain amount payed towards your glasses. Lenses tend to be covered completely if its deemed that you need them and glasses range. The most common is a band A which is currently worth £36.50. You can also get entitlements for supplments sucha s thinner lenses. So make sure you ask the optition writing your certificate to include as much as they possibly can!
HTH!x

 

[Logan's Mum]

Im at the other end of the vouchers and I pay them from the NHS. You get given a banding which entitles you to a certain amount payed towards your glasses. Lenses tend to be covered completely if its deemed that you need them and glasses range. The most common is a band A which is currently worth £36.50. You can also get entitlements for supplments sucha s thinner lenses. So make sure you ask the optition writing your certificate to include as much as they possibly can!
HTH!x

OOOOOOOO what do you do? I assess HC1 forms, then HC5 refund forms too. Do you get the HC5 forms which have been forwarded from our office?
Sorry, Im just a bit nosey!

 

[Caroline]

The computer systems @ specsavers are programmed to make sure patient gets max from voucher, eg will transpose prescription into plus form if it means patient will get bigger voucher.

 

[kintenda]

emilyjade I'm guessing its a family tax credit exemption card suzanne has entitling her to help. The maternity exemption card does not entitle u to help. Hope this clears up confusion.

Suzanne, its worth shopping around, as op states value depends on your prescription. I work for specsavers & you either get 2 for 1 offer & voucher is deducted from cost @ face value or you can have one pair & they "top up" the voucher, so u can get a designer pair with standard lenses for around £50 then pay extra for thinner lenses which start around £40 I think. I'm not 100% sure due to baby brain (am on mat leave @ mo) and I test eyes rather than dispense glasses so don't get too involved (I normally use my price list on wall lol to quote approx cost).

You can get eyes tested anywhere & take your voucher to whichever optician u want for your specs.

I also work for Specsavers & I would say that our specs are cheaper than the rest that I've seen. The voucher value depends on your prescription & like the poster said, you would have to pay extra for anything other than standard single vision lenses (IE if you want them thinned, varifocals, tinting etc)...

 

[juliesooty]

HI
Just wondered, I too need new glasses and my lenses are in the region of £400 (registered blind!!), I have an NHS tax credit exemption certificate but my claim has changed since it was issued, it says its valid until June next year, will thaty be right or do they cancel them??? Could really do with the voucher!!

 

[Logan's Mum]

HI
Just wondered, I too need new glasses and my lenses are in the region of £400 (registered blind!!), I have an NHS tax credit exemption certificate but my claim has changed since it was issued, it says its valid until June next year, will thaty be right or do they cancel them??? Could really do with the voucher!!

The certificate is valid as long as your details were correct when you applied for tax credits this year (in other words, as long as your entitlement was correct and you did not get re-assessed due to missing off some income etc). e.g. if your income was below the threashold (around £15100) and you got a card, and then your income increases to over the threashold a few months later, you can still use your card
Hope this helps!