Pensioners urged to check eligibility for free NHS dental treatment
Pensioners have been urged to check if they are eligible for free NHS dental treatment.
Most people have to pay for NHS dental care, but there are exceptions, including children, pregnant women and new mothers and people who receive certain benefits.
January is traditionally a time when many people feel the pinch and this year, households are struggling more than usual due to rising gas prices and relatively high rates of inflation.
Therese Coffey, secretary of state for work and pensions, recently outlined the advantages of Pension Credit to help pensioners who have retired on a low income to gain access to financial support.
Pension Credit is targeted at people who reach retirement age on a low income and it provides access to benefits, including free NHS dental care. Pensioners who are eligible for the Guarantee Credit part of the Pension Credit can save hundreds of pounds by benefitting from free NHS dental treatment, including denture repairs, routine services, such as check-ups, and fillings and extractions.
The Guarantee Credit ensures that single recipients receive a weekly payment of £177.20 and couples have access to a payment of £270.30. The other part of Pension Credit, Savings Credit, provides an additional payment of £14.04 for singles and £15.71 for couples. People who receive Savings Credit benefits are not eligible for free NHS dental care.
NHS dental treatments are divided into three bands. Band 1 services are the most basic and they are available for all patients at a cost of £23.80. Examples of band 1 treatments include check-ups, cleaning and dental X-rays. Band 2 treatments cost £65.20 and include fillings, extractions and root canal treatment.
Band 3 services currently cost £282.80 and cover the most complex procedures available on the NHS, including dental bridges, dentures and crowns. NHS dental charges are not applicable to children, pregnant women and women who have given birth in the last year and people who receive low income benefits.
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