Automatic entitlement to other benefits
People awarded family income supplement (as well as their dependants) are also entitled to:
free prescriptions, free dentures and dental treatment, certain glasses and wigs and fabric supports under the National Health Service; free milk and vitamins for expectant mothers and children under school age; free school meals for children at school;
refund of fares for members of the family attending hospital for treatment; and
free legal advice under the Legal Aid Scheme-subject to level of capital and savings.
Further information: Leaflet FIS1.
Family planning
Anyone can get free family planning advice and treatment from NHS family planning clinics. Women can also get free advice and treatment from most family doctors.
Contraceptive supplies prescribed under the NHS are free of charge.
Glasses
Exemption from payment
Children under 16 and older children still full-time at school (but not technical colleges or further education establishments) may be supplied free of charge with glasses using standard NHS lenses in NHS frames from the children's standard range. Children aged 10 or over can choose any other NHS frame but if they do only the lenses will be free, a charge is made for the frame.
Other persons who are exempt from most optical charges are:
people, and their dependants, who are getting a supplementary pension or allowance;
people in a family getting a family income supplement;
people and their dependants, who are exempt from prescription charges because of low incomes; and
people in a family getting milk and vitamins free because of low income. Anyone who is in one of these categories should tell the optician and then sign a declaration on a form which he will provide.
Help with payment
People with low incomes can get help with all or part of their optical charges and any help will depend on the level of income. See "Low income entitlement" on page 37.
The amount of help cannot normally be more than the cost of the cheapest frame in the NHS range plus the appropriate charge for standard lenses. Help with items supplied outside the NHS standard range can only be given where they are provided through a hospital as being clinically necessary. No help can be given with charges for lenses or frames supplied privately. Further information: hospitals (where glasses are provided through a hos- pital); leaflet M11 (from post offices and social security offices).
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