NHS

We welcome all NHS patients. We have a large selection of modern and stylish frames FREE for NHS qualifying patients. You also have the option of upgrading to non-NHS frames by paying the difference in price.

You're entitled to a free NHS sight test if you:

• Are under 16
• Are 16, 17 or 18 and in full-time education
• Are 60 or over
• Are registered as partially sighted or blind
• Have been diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma
• Are 40 or over and your mother, father, sibling or child has been diagnosed with glaucoma
• Have been advised by an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) that you're at risk of glaucoma
• Are a prisoner on leave from prison
• Are eligible for an NHS complex lens voucher – your optician can advise you about your entitlement

You're also entitled if you or your partner – including civil partner – receive, or you're under the age of 20 and the dependant of someone receiving:

• Income Support
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• Universal Credit and meet the criteria below:

You qualify if, on the date you claim help with health costs: you receive Universal Credit and either had no earnings or had net earnings of £435 or less in your last Universal Credit assessment period or you receive Universal Credit, which includes an element for a child, or you (or your partner) had limited capability for work (LCW) or limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA), and you either had no earnings or net earnings of £935 or less in your last Universal Credit assessment period. If you're part of a couple, the net earning threshold applies to your combined net earnings. You should pay for any health costs if you're unsure whether you meet the eligibility criteria. You can claim a refund once you're able to confirm your entitlement.

If you're entitled to or named on:

• A valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate (if you do not have a certificate, you can show your award notice), you qualify if you get Child Tax Credits, Working Tax Credits with a disability element (or both), and have income for tax credit purposes of £15,276 or less
• A valid NHS certificate for full help with health costs (HC2)

People named on an NHS certificate for partial help with health costs (HC3) may also get help with the cost of a private sight test.

NHS optical vouchers

You're entitled to an optical voucher for help towards the cost of your glasses or contact lenses if you:

• Are under 16
• Are 16, 17 or 18 and in full-time education
• Are a prisoner on leave from prison
• Are eligible for an NHS complex lens voucher – an optician can advise you about your entitlement

You're also entitled if you or your partner – including civil partner – receive, or you're under the age of 20 and the dependant of someone receiving:

• Income Support
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• Universal Credit and meet the criteria, as listed above

If you're entitled to or named on:

• A valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate (if you do not have a certificate, you can show your award notice), you qualify if you get Child Tax Credits, Working Tax Credits with a disability element (or both), and have income for tax credit purposes of £15,276 or less
• A valid NHS certificate for full help with health costs (HC2)

People named on an NHS certificate for partial help with health costs (HC3) may also get help with the cost of glasses or contact lenses.

At Specstore Opticians we will take care of all the paperwork and fill out all the forms for you. All you need to do is make an appointment and bring evidence of your entitlement with you on the day. Don't worry if you cannot bring the necessary entitlement documents with you, we will still be able to proceed with your eye test. However, your local health authority may check your eligibility in due course.