DWP claimants on Universal Credit and more able to claim free NHS prescriptions - full list

Millions of people across the country could be eligible to get free prescriptions without realising.

With the cost of living crisis continuing to squeeze out people's wallets, those who need frequent prescriptions could save a small fortune. Typically, someone would need to pay for their prescriptions, but they could get them completely for free, but only under certain criteria.

If you do have to pay for a prescription the current charge is £9.65 per item. This means if you have to get medication regularly then it can add up.

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If you cannot claim a free prescription there is another option that may help you save money in the long run. A prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) costs £111.60 a year and covers all your NHS prescriptions, including NHS dental prescriptions, no matter how many items you need.

According to the NHS, you are eligible for a completely free prescription if you meet one of the following criteria:

For those claiming certain benefits, you can claim a free prescription if you or your partner receive some form of benefit or if you are under 20 and reliant on someone who receives one of the following payments:

Furthermore, if you receive tax credit you may receive a free prescription if you meet one of the following:

To find out if you're eligible for free prescriptions or other forms of NHS cost support, you can fill in the NHS Business Services Authority checker here.