If you’re entitled to help with your health costs, you'll receive an HC2 or HC3 certificate.
Certificates are valid for 12 months unless you’re:
- a final year student or a student on a one year course, your certificate is valid until the last day of the academic year
- a care leaver, your certificate is valid for 12 months or until your 18th birthday, whichever is longer
- an asylum seeker, your certificate is valid for 6 months
You'll receive a certificate which is valid for 5 years if you're:
- a single person aged 65 or over
- part of a couple where one member is aged 60 or over and the other is aged 65 or over
You must have:
- no earnings
- no payments from an occupational, personal or private pension scheme
- no payments from an annuity
You'll receive a certificate valid for 5 years if you live in a residential care home and you're:
- a single person aged 65 or over
- part of a couple where one member is aged 60 or over and the other is aged 65 or over
You must not be receiving any earnings.
Check what help you could get to pay for NHS costs and apply online.