Free Prescription Checker
Answer a few questions to see whether you qualify for free NHS prescriptions, which age, certificate or benefit gives you the exemption, and what you would pay if you do not. Built on the rules for England, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland covered too.
Free prescription checker
NHS prescription rules in force on 25 September 2026.
A guide, not an official decision. Check your entitlement with the NHS Business Services Authority before you claim.
Who gets free NHS prescriptions in England
In England most adults pay a charge for each item on an NHS prescription. The law lists the people who do not pay: some because of their age, some because they hold a certificate, and some because of the benefits they get. You only need one of these to qualify. What counts is your situation when you go to collect the prescription.
Prescriptions cost £9.90 an item in England. They are free if you are under 16, 16 to 18 in full-time education, or 60 or over, if you hold a valid exemption certificate or HC2, or if you get Pension Credit guarantee credit, income-related ESA, or Universal Credit with take-home pay of £435 or less in your last assessment period (£935 if your award includes a child element or limited capability for work).
By age
- Under 16.
- 16, 17 or 18 and in qualifying full-time education. You may be asked for proof of your course.
- 60 or over. If your date of birth is printed on the prescription, you do not need to show proof of age.
With a certificate
- Maternity exemption certificate, if you are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months.
- Medical exemption certificate, for the conditions listed below.
- HC2 certificate from the NHS Low Income Scheme, which gives full help with health costs.
- War pension exemption certificate, but only for items for your accepted disablement.
- Prescription prepayment certificate (PPC), which you buy in advance, or an HRT PPC for listed HRT items.
With a benefit
- Universal Credit, if you had no earnings or take-home pay of £435 or less in your most recent assessment period. The limit is £935 if your award includes a child element, or if you or your partner have limited capability for work. For joint claims, it is your combined pay. Children and young people you are responsible for are covered when the £935 limit applies to you.
- Pension Credit guarantee credit, on its own or with savings credit. Savings credit on its own does not count.
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, including a partner in the same family.
New Style JSA and New Style ESA do not give free prescriptions on their own. Nor does Personal Independence Payment: it is not one of the listed benefits, although you may qualify another way, such as a medical exemption certificate or your age.
| Universal Credit award | Take-home pay limit in your last assessment period |
|---|---|
| No child element and no limited capability for work | £435 |
| With a child element, or LCW or LCWRA for you or your partner | £935 |
If you qualify through Universal Credit, tick box U on the prescription form. If the form has no U box, NHSBSA says to tick box K.
Medical exemption certificates
A medical exemption certificate covers people with:
- a permanent fistula, such as a colostomy, ileostomy, laryngostomy or caecostomy, needing continuous surgical dressing or an appliance
- forms of hypoadrenalism, including Addison's disease, needing specific substitution therapy
- diabetes insipidus and other forms of hypopituitarism
- diabetes mellitus, except where it is treated by diet alone
- hypoparathyroidism, myasthenia gravis or myxoedema
- epilepsy needing continuous anticonvulsive therapy
- a continuing physical disability that means you cannot go out without help from another person
- treatment for cancer, the effects of cancer or the effects of cancer treatment
Prescription charges in England for 2026/27
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Each prescription item | £9.90 |
| 3-month prescription prepayment certificate | £32.05 |
| 12-month prescription prepayment certificate | £114.50 |
| HRT prescription prepayment certificate | £19.80 |
Figures from the NHS (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations 2015 and the NHSBSA booklet HC11 from April 2026. Some items are always free, including prescribed contraceptives, medicines given to you in hospital or at an NHS walk-in centre, and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. If you pay for several items a month, a 12-month PPC costs less than paying for 12 items in a year. Our prescription prepayment certificate calculator compares the two.
Two examples. Jo gets Universal Credit with a child element and took home £820 in her last assessment period. That is under £935, so her prescriptions are free. Sam gets Universal Credit with no child element and no limited capability for work, and took home £600, which is over £435. He pays £9.90 an item. For 3 items a month that is £29.70 a month or £356.40 a year, so a 12-month PPC at £114.50 would save him £241.90.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Scotland: no charge is made for a Scottish prescription form.
- Wales: if you are registered with a GP in Wales, prescriptions from a pharmacist in Wales are free.
- Northern Ireland: all prescriptions dispensed there are free for everyone.
If you are not sure, or you have a low income
If you are not sure whether you qualify, pay for the prescription and ask the pharmacy for an NHS receipt and refund form, called an FP57. Claiming free prescriptions when you are not entitled can lead to a penalty charge of five times the amount you should have paid, up to £100, on top of the charge itself.
On a low income you can apply to the NHS Low Income Scheme. You cannot get help if you or your partner have more than £16,000 in savings, investments or property other than your home, or £23,250 if you live permanently in a care home. NHSBSA compares your weekly income with your weekly needs. If it issues an HC2 certificate, prescriptions are free. An HC3 certificate gives partial help with costs such as dental treatment, sight tests, glasses and travel, but not with prescription medicines. For dental costs, see our NHS dental charges calculator.
This checker is a guide to the rules. It is not an official decision, so check with NHSBSA if you are unsure before you tick a box on the form.
Frequently asked questions
Do I get free prescriptions if I am on Universal Credit?
Yes, if your take-home pay in your most recent assessment period was £435 or less, or you had no earnings. The limit is £935 if your award includes a child element or you or your partner have limited capability for work. For a joint claim it is your combined pay. Tick box U on the prescription form.
At what age are prescriptions free in England?
Prescriptions are free if you are 60 or over or under 16. They are also free at 16, 17 or 18 if you are in qualifying full-time education.
How much is a prescription in England in 2026?
The charge is £9.90 for each item. A 3-month prescription prepayment certificate costs £32.05 and a 12-month certificate costs £114.50.
Do I get free prescriptions if I get PIP?
Not because of PIP. Personal Independence Payment is not one of the benefits that give free prescriptions. You may still qualify another way, for example with a medical exemption certificate, by age, or through Universal Credit or Pension Credit guarantee credit.
Are prescriptions free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
Yes. There is no charge for a Scottish prescription form. Prescriptions dispensed in Northern Ireland are free for everyone. In Wales they are free from a Welsh pharmacist if you are registered with a GP in Wales.
What happens if I claim free prescriptions by mistake?
You may get a penalty charge of five times the amount you should have paid, up to £100, plus the charge itself. If you are unsure, pay and ask for an FP57 refund form, then claim the money back if you turn out to be entitled.