Qualify for free "co pays"

Sometimes when going for medical treatment of some sort or other, I am presented with a form to fill out.  On this form it says that if  myself or my partner or spouse is on benefits, I am eligible for free treatment.  I realize most medical treatments are offered for free anyway.  But some things like dental or vision looks to have a co pay of sorts.  If my spouse  is on benefits, am I running the risk of "accessing public funds" if I take advantage of these free services. 

Yes, I think you are.

Vicky

Vicky, sorry, I disagree. The definition of Public Funds in para 6 of the Immigration Rules includes nothing that is health-related, and accordingly if things like free NHS dentistry and/or free NHS prescriptions are accessed, that is not a problem.

Lisapower, go ahead and claim whatever health benefits you are entitled to.

Hmmm.

My concern is that if these benefits are only being claimed because the spouse is claiming benefits, then surely for the non-UK national to claim them is claiming the public funds.

But, John is really more knowledgeble than I in this particular area, so if he says it is cool it almost certainly is!


Vicky

Interesting one - I'd say that because it's due to spouse being on benefits then that is against the rules of the visa. However DW went to the doctor and the nurse said that due to the type of medication she required it entitled her to free prescriptions (and I'm not entitled to that) so that would be ok.

It needs to be appreciated that the UK Government, in its wisdom, has not included every possible type of benefit in the definition of Public Funds, as in para 6 of the Immigration Rules. Again I state that there is absolutely nothing health-related in that definition.

In order to check for yourself click here and then scroll down to para 6, which you will see is just a list of definition, including the one you want .... Public Funds.

Again, claiming free NHS prescriptions or free NHS dentistry ..... if there is an entitlement .... is not within the definition of Public Funds. No problem claiming. In particular, a woman who is pregnant, or has given birth in the last 12 months, is entitled to claim these benefits .... and should!

FYI the definition of which benefits you need to be on to claim help with NHS charges is quite detailed (e.g. you have to be on income based jobseekers rather than contribution based job seekers). Details can be found here: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/publicationsandstatistics/publications/publicationspolicyandguidance/dh_4078082