NHS Low Income Scheme Calculator

This independent UK checker helps you understand whether the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS) may be worth applying for. NHSBSA makes the official assessment using your income, necessary expenses, savings and household circumstances, so this page does not invent an exact HC2 or HC3 entitlement formula.

How the NHS Low Income Scheme is assessed

NHSBSA assesses weekly income and necessary expenses, as well as savings and investments. Expenses considered include a personal allowance, Council Tax, housing costs and premiums for additional requirements. This means there is no single public income cut-off that can accurately decide every claim.

HC2 and HC3 certificates

If the assessment shows entitlement to full help, NHSBSA issues an HC2 certificate. If your assessed weekly income is above your assessed requirements but you still qualify for some help, you may receive an HC3 certificate for partial help. If your income is too high for help, NHSBSA can issue an LIS11 decision instead.

What help can an HC2 provide?

An HC2 can provide full help with NHS prescriptions, NHS dental treatment, NHS-funded sight tests, NHS wigs and fabric supports, eligible travel costs for NHS treatment, and help towards glasses or contact lenses. The exact help available can depend on the UK country and circumstances.

What help can an HC3 provide?

An HC3 provides partial help and states how much you must pay towards relevant health costs. NHSBSA states that HC3 holders still pay prescription charges in full where prescription charges apply.

Capital limits

You cannot normally apply if you or your partner have more than £16,000 in savings, investments or property, excluding the home you live in. For people living permanently in a care home, the stated limit is £23,250, or £24,000 in Wales.

Worked example

Suppose a household has £4,000 of relevant capital and does not already receive automatic full help. The £16,000 capital rule does not prevent an application, but that alone cannot tell whether the outcome will be HC2, HC3 or no help. NHSBSA still needs to compare the household’s assessed income with its assessed requirements and expenses.

How to apply

You can apply through NHSBSA online if your circumstances are supported by the online service. Otherwise you can complete an HC1 form. Some circumstances, including certain self-employed, student, maintenance-payment and higher-capital cases, require a paper application rather than the online route.

Limitations

This checker does not reproduce NHSBSA’s full means-test calculation and cannot predict an official award. It does not assess every qualifying benefit, student rule, care-home rule, immigration/residence condition, refund claim or country-specific exemption. Always use the official NHSBSA application for a decision.

Authoritative Sources

• NHS: NHS Low Income Scheme
• NHSBSA: NHS Low Income Scheme
• NHSBSA: how HC1 applications are assessed

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FAQs

What is the savings limit for the NHS Low Income Scheme?

The standard limit is £16,000 in savings, investments and property other than the home you live in. Different limits apply to permanent care-home residents.

What is the difference between HC2 and HC3?

HC2 gives full help with specified NHS health costs, while HC3 provides partial help and tells you how much you must contribute.

Is there one income limit for the NHS Low Income Scheme?

No single income figure accurately decides every claim. NHSBSA compares assessed income with requirements and relevant expenses such as housing costs and Council Tax.

Can I apply online?

Many people can apply online, but NHSBSA lists circumstances where a paper HC1 application is required.

Disclaimer: This independent checker is for general information only and is not an NHSBSA entitlement decision, financial advice or benefits advice.