NHS Dentist Bill

A question about : NHS Dentist Bill

Last year I was unemployed for 6 months and claiming JSA in my home town. I undertook some dentist treatment to my tooth and was told I would not have to pay and all my treatment was included in. Only half the treatment had been completed before I started work again and had to move.

Now another 6 months have passed and I was made redundant again this time claiming contributions based JSA of under 16k from my local job centre. I finally finished the treatment that was undertook the previous six months and had to travel back home in order to have it finished.

Now few weeks ago I had a bill from NHS asking for the money back as they have no indication of me being on JSA. Any advance on this? I was told all my treatment was included in first time I was unemployed and I wouldn't have to pay anything back.

Best answers:

• Who is entitled to free NHS Dental treatment in England?
  https://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1786.aspx?CategoryID=74
  You can also get free NHS dental treatment if, when the treatment starts or when you're asked to pay:
• you're included in an award of Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Credit guarantee credit or Universal credit (check entitlement after October 31 2015)

You have mentioned being on Contributions-based JSA now, was that the case when you started the treatment? If so then you're not entitled to free treatment, but if you were on Income-based when it started then proof of that should be enough to confirm your entitlement.

• for the treatment to be free you would have had to be on income based jsa. Also treatment needed within a two month time frame from start of treatment would have been free. if another treatment was given after two months then you would have to be on jsa income based to get the treatment further.
  as your contributions based jsa in the second 6 months then you would have had to pay for the treatment from the second 6 month period as its way over the 2 month limit and also your on contribution jsa.
• It all depends on the time interval, for your first tx if you were on JSA it would be free and that may have been sent off as completed by your dentist so they can get paid.
  When you went back to commence the second treatment, were you on ESA or JSA, if you were on any of these at the start of your second treatment again it would be free, but if you were not and the dentist submitted the treatment as complete then they would not have any records then you would need to pay.
  The best thing is to submit the details of your first and second benfit to the NHS and see what they say.At the end of the day if they say you have to pay you can negotiate to pay instulmentally