The Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme was established across the United Kingdom

National Health Service The National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). Since 1948, they have been funded out of general taxation. There are three systems which are referred to using the " ...

in 1988. Patients and their children in receipt of means tested benefits, or on a low income, could get help with the cost of travel to hospital appointments. It does not apply to primary care or community services and it does not apply to visitors.

History

The legal basis was the National Health Service (Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges) Regulations SI no 551 of 1988. Before 1988 there was a scheme but there was no statutory basis and the costs incurred were met centrally. From 1988 Health Authorities met the cost of expenditure. Subsequently costs were transferred to

NHS trust An NHS trust is an organisational unit within the National Health Services of England and Wales, generally serving either a geographical area or a specialised function (such as an ambulance service). In any particular location there may be several ...

s. New regulations were introduced by the National Health Service (Travel Expenses and Remission of Charges) Regulations 2003. People who qualified for

Income Support Income Support is an income-related benefit in the United Kingdom for some people who are on a low income, but have a reason for not actively seeking work. Claimants of Income Support may be entitled to certain other benefits, for example, Housi ...

Family Credit Family Credit was a social security benefit introduced by the Social Security Act 1986 for low-paid workers with children in Great Britain that replaced Family Income Supplement. The benefit was designed for families with children if at least one ...

qualified for payment of full fares. Others could apply for remission with a means test based on the Income Support rules.

Qualifying benefits

In 2019 the qualifying benefits are: *

*income-based Jobseeker's Allowance *income-related

Employment and Support Allowance Employment is a relationship between two parties regulating the provision of paid labour services. Usually based on a contract, one party, the employer, which might be a corporation A corporation is an organization—usually a group o ...

Working Tax Credit Working Tax Credit (WTC) is a state benefit in the United Kingdom made to people who work and have a low income. It was introduced in April 2003 and is a means-tested benefit. Despite their name, tax credits are not to be confused with tax cred ...

with

Child Tax Credit A child tax credit (CTC) is a tax credit for parents with dependent children given by various countries. The credit is often linked to the number of dependent children a taxpayer has and sometimes the taxpayer's income level. For example, in t ...

, a disability element or a severe disability element *Child Tax Credit for people not eligible for Working Tax Credit *

Pension Credit Pension Credit is the principal element of the UK welfare system for people of pension age. It is intended to supplement the UK State Pension, or to replace it (for example, if the claimant did not meet the conditions to claim a State Pension). I ...

Guarantee Credit *

Universal Credit Universal Credit is a United Kingdom social security payment. It is means-tested and is replacing and combining six benefits for working-age households with a low income: income-related Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker's ...

with net earnings of £435 or less in the last Universal Credit assessment period, or with an element for a child, or limited capability for work or limited capability for work and work-related activity, with net earnings of less than £935 People assessed under the

NHS Low Income Scheme The NHS Low Income Scheme is intended to reduce the cost of NHS prescription charges, NHS dentistry, sight tests, glasses and contact lenses, necessary costs of travel to receive NHS treatment, NHS wigs and fabric supports, i.e. spinal or abdom ...

may qualify for full or partial help.

Entitlement

Costs reimbursed are normally for the cheapest suitable mode of transport for the patient's circumstances. This may include the cost of a carer, or of accompanying children. In most cases this in will be public transport. If a car is used reimbursement will be for the cost of fuel at the local mileage rate and unavoidable car parking and toll charges. It is not uncommon for the cost of taxi fares to be refused, but they are payable if they are reasonably required. It is possible to get an advanced payment to help attend an appointment. Claims must be made within 3 months. Claims are normally made at the hospital but may be made in arrears, in England, to the

Clinical Commissioning Group Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) were NHS organisations set up by the Health and Social Care Act 2012 to organise the delivery of NHS services in each of their local areas in England. On 1 July 2022 they were abolished and replaced by Integra ...

Administration

Manchester Health Authority produced a report on the working of the scheme in Greater Manchester in 1997. They found a wide variation in the amounts paid out by different hospitals, without any obvious explanation of the differences. Some hospitals were reported as adopting a

Poor Law In English and British history, poor relief refers to government and ecclesiastical action to relieve poverty. Over the centuries, various authorities have needed to decide whose poverty deserves relief and also who should bear the cost of hel ...

approach. Patients are expect to take proof that they are eligible to a nominated cashiers' office. If they don't have the evidence they may be told to return with it. Many cashiers offices close at 4pm, but patients appointments may be later. The benefit system changes but hospitals may not keep up with the changes.

References

External links