Yesterday I had a trip to the GP's, and got a nice prescription.
I took it to my local supermarket where they asked me if I had to pay for it or not.
I stated that I worked and paid my National Insurance contributions every month, and then she kindly said..." that will be please ". How much ? That is PER ITEM. So it cost me £ for two bloody items.
Ah but she replied..." if you did not work or was on benefits it would be free ". Ah I thought.
Sometimes I wonder if it is worth bloody working!
Let me get this one right....I work and pay taxes every month and a large bunce of money towards my health care, yet somebody who contributes nothing gets it all for free.
I know this will annoy some out there who do not work and will feel they should then get it for free but...I think with the ammount of money I pay every month that I should get it for free.
OR everyone should get it for free!
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Prescription charges.
Well, you have to bear in mind that we here in England are subsidising prescription charges for the Welsh, who I believe get free scripts, and the Scottish, who pay a reduced rate (not sure how much now, but was in 2009). It seems even our fellow Brits are comfortable discriminating against us English!
Quote by kentswingers777
Yesterday I had a trip to the GP's, and got a nice prescription.
I took it to my local supermarket where they asked me if I had to pay for it or not.
I stated that I worked and paid my National Insurance contributions every month, and then she kindly said..." that will be please ". How much ? That is PER ITEM. So it cost me £ for two bloody items.
Ah but she replied..." if you did not work or was on benefits it would be free ". Ah I thought.
Sometimes I wonder if it is worth bloody working!
Let me get this one right....I work and pay taxes every month and a large bunce of money towards my health care, yet somebody who contributes nothing gets it all for free.
I know this will annoy some out there who do not work and will feel they should then get it for free but...I think with the ammount of money I pay every month that I should get it for free.
OR everyone should get it for free!
Quote by Kaznkev
I wish it was true people on benifits got it free, my mum is on invalidity and takes 8 different pills a day,all of which she has to pay for.
It seems to me that if a doctor has prescribed a medicine it is a necessity,and should therefore be free,but thats my leftie loonines i suppose
Bloody hell, it's 1950 all over again, and major credit to anyone who can name the two ministers who resigned along with Bevan over this issue.
Prescription, dental and opticians charges are a form of additional tax that is intended to ration NHS services, and from which people on some means tested benefits are exempt.
The NHS in Scotland and Wales has been directed by its political masters to use the money available under the national settlement to subsidize prescription charges. The price in Wales has been much longer waiting lists than in England because they've used the money that was used for waiting list reduction in England to keep prescription charges down. So it's not a subsidy to Wales from England, except in the general sense of the Barnett formula.
Me? I'd make prescriptions free as well.
Prescriptions are free to those below:
* If you are aged 60 or over.
* If you are under 16.
* If you are aged 16, 17 or 18 and in full-time education.
* If you are pregnant, or have had a baby in the previous 12 months, and have an exemption certificate (see below).
* If you have a listed medical condition and have an exemption certificate.
* If you are an NHS in-patient.
* If you (or your partner) gets one of the following:
o Income Support.
o Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance.
o Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
o Pension Credit Guarantee Credit.
* If you are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate.
* Some war pensioners - if treatment is connected with the pensionable disability.
* People on a low income who have a certificate HC2.
You can also buy a pre-payment certificate for about which is valid for 3 months.
Oh, and the cost to the nhs of the most commonly prescribed drugs is less than
A course of Amoxycillin (250mg) is less than one pound.
The total cost to the nhs for my courses of drugs is The cost to me is (well, it was)
If you have a word with the doctor he may increase the doseage, which will double the amount of medicine you get on a single prescription.
Oh, and if you are over 60, and unemployed and single, you may be entitled to Pension Credit or Guarantee credit.
* If you are aged 60 or over.
* If you are under 16.
* If you are aged 16, 17 or 18 and in full-time education.
* If you are pregnant, or have had a baby in the previous 12 months, and have an exemption certificate (see below).
* If you have a listed medical condition and have an exemption certificate.
* If you are an NHS in-patient.
* If you (or your partner) gets one of the following:
o Income Support.
o Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance.
o Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
o Pension Credit Guarantee Credit.
* If you are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate.
* Some war pensioners - if treatment is connected with the pensionable disability.
* People on a low income who have a certificate HC2.
You can also buy a pre-payment certificate for about which is valid for 3 months.
Oh, and the cost to the nhs of the most commonly prescribed drugs is less than
A course of Amoxycillin (250mg) is less than one pound.
The total cost to the nhs for my courses of drugs is The cost to me is (well, it was)
If you have a word with the doctor he may increase the doseage, which will double the amount of medicine you get on a single prescription.
Oh, and if you are over 60, and unemployed and single, you may be entitled to Pension Credit or Guarantee credit.
Sex God
I take 5 lots of tablets for my heart condition and will do so for the rest of my natural...
I have to pay for them.........I buy a 12 month pre-payment otherwise it would be approx £36 per month....
I have to pay for them.........I buy a 12 month pre-payment otherwise it would be approx £36 per month....
Sex God
Quote by Steve
I have to pay for them.........I buy a 12 month pre-payment otherwise it would be approx £36 per month....
I wish I'd realised about this last year. I had a problem with my eye which was initially mis-diagnosed and turned out paying out about 80 quid in prescriptions in 2 months. It was only towards then end of the treatment that I realised I should have got a pre-payment certificate in the first place.
It does seem unfair that people that pay tax effectively pay twice for their prescriptions!
It's in keeping with our taxation system - you more you work (and therefore earn), the more you are forced to pay. If I getthe chance to go ex-pat with my job, I'm off for sure - my harder and harder work is rewarded by more being taken from me - no incentive at all, yet eh less I do, the more support I get for not doing it.
Hmmm... methinks if not 'ex-pat' then maybe unemployed ?
Either way, I'll have more disposable income !
Hmmm... methinks if not 'ex-pat' then maybe unemployed ?
Either way, I'll have more disposable income !
Sex God
"from each according to their means,to each according to their needs"....founding principles and all that
Sex God
Quote by kentswingers777
I bet there are tons of people that should pay, but just sign the form to say they do not have to pay.
They are supposed to provide proof of that. It's up to the pharmacy to require the evidence.
Quote by poshkate
I have to pay for them.........I buy a 12 month pre-payment otherwise it would be approx £36 per month....
I wish I'd realised about this last year. I had a problem with my eye which was initially mis-diagnosed and turned out paying out about 80 quid in prescriptions in 2 months. It was only towards then end of the treatment that I realised I should have got a pre-payment certificate in the first place.
It does seem unfair that people that pay tax effectively pay twice for their prescriptions!
Ah, but did you know at the outset that you would be needing prescriptions for a time? If you didn't then you were caught like I was once and no doubt a lot of others are too. But, I can recall asking if they were cheaper to buy on some non-prescription items.
Nowadays, I don't have to worry being over 60 and at £7 I'm so sad for those who have to pay.
Plim :sad:
Sex God
Quote by Plimboy
I have to pay for them.........I buy a 12 month pre-payment otherwise it would be approx £36 per month....
I wish I'd realised about this last year. I had a problem with my eye which was initially mis-diagnosed and turned out paying out about 80 quid in prescriptions in 2 months. It was only towards then end of the treatment that I realised I should have got a pre-payment certificate in the first place.
It does seem unfair that people that pay tax effectively pay twice for their prescriptions!
Ah, but did you know at the outset that you would be needing prescriptions for a time?
I was told I would have to take them for the rest of my natural yes...
Sex God
Quote by kentswingers777
Yesterday I had a trip to the GP's, and got a nice prescription.
I took it to my local supermarket where they asked me if I had to pay for it or not.
I stated that I worked and paid my National Insurance contributions every month, and then she kindly said..." that will be please ". How much ? That is PER ITEM. So it cost me £ for two bloody items.
Ah but she replied..." if you did not work or was on benefits it would be free ". Ah I thought.
Sometimes I wonder if it is worth bloody working!
Let me get this one right....I work and pay taxes every month and a large bunce of money towards my health care, yet somebody who contributes nothing gets it all for free.
I know this will annoy some out there who do not work and will feel they should then get it for free but...I think with the ammount of money I pay every month that I should get it for free.
OR everyone should get it for free!
I had never looked at it that way before, does seam a little back the front.
Not quite the same I know, but nearly 30 years ago my first daughter was born. this was before the start of the CSA, although I did have dealings with them latter. Her mother and I did not stay together, so I volunteered maintenance payments from the outset, so no court case ever needed. Some while later I discovered that one could claim tax relief on maintenance payments, so I dully applied. I had a letter back to say, yes I could claim, but they would need to see the court order, oh no I said, no court order as I paid of my own accord from the outset. Sorry was the reply, no court order, no tax relief. Shafted for doing what I thought was the correct thing to do!
If you're unemployed the benefit would be
If you have a mortgage you will receive no help for 3 months.
If you live in rented accommodation the rent is paid direct to the landlord.
The housing benefit is claimed via the local council, whose questioning during the "interview" can be direct, and distressing.
During your unemployment you will need to be "actively seeking work", this means you need to send your cv to several different companies each week.
At the end of claiming all the benefits, you will still only receive
Successfully claiming other benefit means your basic allowance is cut....
People can, and do, sign the prescription to get them free.....about 1 in 3 is checked. If you have falsely claimed you will be prosecuted...is it worth it ?
The only way to live on benefit is to be doing work at the same time....and then your neighbour/friend will inform on you...and get paid for it.
A bag of shit really....
And I forgot the really interesting stuff: Everyone claiming "sick" pay for longer than a few weeks is sent for examination by a private health company (really just an occupational health scam)(and in many cases the claimant is not seen by either a doctor or nurse....but by an "occupational health practitioner") (a healthcare professional....a doc or nurse is a PRIMARY healthcare professional).
At the examination the ONLY thing the examiner will be assessing is "can this person do any work at all".
If the answer is "yes" then your benefit ( ) is stopped. If you are also receiving other benefits they stop at the same time.
Fun ?
If you have a mortgage you will receive no help for 3 months.
If you live in rented accommodation the rent is paid direct to the landlord.
The housing benefit is claimed via the local council, whose questioning during the "interview" can be direct, and distressing.
During your unemployment you will need to be "actively seeking work", this means you need to send your cv to several different companies each week.
At the end of claiming all the benefits, you will still only receive
Successfully claiming other benefit means your basic allowance is cut....
People can, and do, sign the prescription to get them free.....about 1 in 3 is checked. If you have falsely claimed you will be prosecuted...is it worth it ?
The only way to live on benefit is to be doing work at the same time....and then your neighbour/friend will inform on you...and get paid for it.
A bag of shit really....
And I forgot the really interesting stuff: Everyone claiming "sick" pay for longer than a few weeks is sent for examination by a private health company (really just an occupational health scam)(and in many cases the claimant is not seen by either a doctor or nurse....but by an "occupational health practitioner") (a healthcare professional....a doc or nurse is a PRIMARY healthcare professional).
At the examination the ONLY thing the examiner will be assessing is "can this person do any work at all".
If the answer is "yes" then your benefit ( ) is stopped. If you are also receiving other benefits they stop at the same time.
Fun ?
Sex God
Quote by JTS
snip
If you have a mortgage you will receive no help for 3 months. snip
Just to comment on this one part....Sorry for cutting most of your original post....
After those 3 months you will no doubt have racked up some decent arrears...
During those 3 months depending on your lender you may receive daily phone calls to ask if you are aware you are in arrears....
This will play on your mind and you will lose serious amounts of sleep over the possibility of getting your house repossessed....
This will lead you to take the first job offer you get regardless of if you can live on the wage or not..
You will then spend the next 3 months trying to claw your way out of debt with your mortgage lender (and any and other lender you may have such as car finance) while travelling 300+ miles a week and spending north of £150 a month on fuel...
After 3 months you will be no further forward really and end up having to hand your car back to the finance company ,as you cannot afford to pay for it due to the previously mentioned low wage ,which they will then sell at auction for a pittance and hound you for the balance....
This will then make it impossible for you to travel to the job that doesn't pay enough to live on but you took anyway as you wanted to start paying your way....
This will then leave you back at the start with no prospects and no job and looking forward to the prospect of the daily phone calls from your mortgage provider....
Ask me how I know
Quote by Kaznkev
And this professional is working of a computer program,not following a proper diagnosis,they are paid to deny benefit,an example in my immediate circle,a 59 yr old woman crawling around the room in tears been asked to show how she got herself off the floor when she fell.
After being passed fit for work she appealed and her original points were they accept she cannot work,nd how has this come about?because of the riaght wings obsession with benefit cheats, a small minority compared to the people who have paid in and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
I think it has more to do with the welfare system becoming so bloated and complex under Labour that it is virtually impossible to control, than the right wing's obsession with benefit cheats. The Labour Government has been in power for 13 years now, it's their policies and controls and checks that are in place.
Quote by Max777
And this professional is working of a computer program,not following a proper diagnosis,they are paid to deny benefit,an example in my immediate circle,a 59 yr old woman crawling around the room in tears been asked to show how she got herself off the floor when she fell.
After being passed fit for work she appealed and her original points were they accept she cannot work,nd how has this come about?because of the riaght wings obsession with benefit cheats, a small minority compared to the people who have paid in and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
I think it has more to do with the welfare system becoming so bloated and complex under Labour that it is virtually impossible to control, than the right wing's obsession with benefit cheats. The Labour Government has been in power for 13 years now, it's their policies and controls and checks that are in place.
Not true. The Invalidity Benefit checks have been going on at the same office in Newcastle for the last twenty years - they've always been a feature of the Invalidity Benefit system, and the obsession with challenging doctors' decisions that people are unfit to work on a long term basis is a permanent tension in the process. And paradoxically it's a feature of the system that it rewards those who game the system while putting pressure on those who try to engage in an honest but complicated way. I represented people at tribunals in the 90s whose only error was answering questions honestly, but in a way that could look equivocal.
The meme that says the welfare system has become bloated and complex is a commonplace today, but it's also been a commonplace ever since the welfare state came into being. Going right back to the row over which Bevan resigned in 1950, the amount of money involved was inconsequential - the then Chancellor wanted the charges as proof of his determination to manage the costs of the NHS. It's a failure of courage on the part of social democratic politicians that leads to them giving in to the cynical viewpoint.
It is more to do with the FACT that they cannot control benefit fraud. It is now an organised industry in itself. Therefore control of those claiming benefit and not "cheating" is essential.
Don't forget: there are enough jobs out there for every unemployed person.
There is no reason that an unemployed person (for instance a steel worker/miner) cannot retrain as a nurse, investment banker or neurosurgeon.
They may even be able to get elected as an mp....then they can become an expenses fraudster instead of a benefit cheat.
And do not fall into the trap of thinking the problem is made by labour...the same problems beset the last conservative governments....the reality is that those elected have no control (or very little) over those that are there no matter which bunch of elected fraudsters are in the majority in the houses of pratliament.
Don't forget: there are enough jobs out there for every unemployed person.
There is no reason that an unemployed person (for instance a steel worker/miner) cannot retrain as a nurse, investment banker or neurosurgeon.
They may even be able to get elected as an mp....then they can become an expenses fraudster instead of a benefit cheat.
And do not fall into the trap of thinking the problem is made by labour...the same problems beset the last conservative governments....the reality is that those elected have no control (or very little) over those that are there no matter which bunch of elected fraudsters are in the majority in the houses of pratliament.
Quote by Kaznkev
And this professional is working of a computer program,not following a proper diagnosis,they are paid to deny benefit,an example in my immediate circle,a 59 yr old woman crawling around the room in tears been asked to show how she got herself off the floor when she fell.
After being passed fit for work she appealed and her original points were they accept she cannot work,and how has this come about?because of the right wings obsession with benefit cheats, a small minority compared to the people who have paid in and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
Did that comment come straight from the Guardian? What a lot of old nonsense.
Are you saying now that it is only right wingers that care about benefit cheats? I am sure no matter what your political persuasion is, you care that someone is cheating the system.
YOU might not bother about it and think it is a tiny little minority, but have you any idea how much money is cheated out of the system every year by benefit cheats?
Google it...you might learn something and maybe you might not think that ammount of money is so small after all.
I think everyone should get prescriptions for free, because you go on about minorities not being significant when it comes to benefit cheats, so why should the minority of people get it for free, over the majority who work and pay their taxes.
I am in the majority and get a bit sick and tired of the minority getting preferential tretment over me...pick the bones out of that one. Better add a
to that one eh? Quote by JTS
It is more to do with the FACT that they cannot control benefit fraud. It is now an organised industry in itself. Therefore control of those claiming benefit and not "cheating" is essential.
Don't forget: there are enough jobs out there for every unemployed person.
There is no reason that an unemployed person (for instance a steel worker/miner) cannot retrain as a nurse, investment banker or neurosurgeon.
They may even be able to get elected as an mp....then they can become an expenses fraudster instead of a benefit cheat.
And do not fall into the trap of thinking the problem is made by labour...the same problems beset the last conservative governments....the reality is that those elected have no control (or very little) over those that are there no matter which bunch of elected fraudsters are in the majority in the houses of pratliament.
I wasn't falling into the trap of thinking the problem is made by Labour.......I'm making the point that they have been in power for 13 years so have had sufficient time to change or try to change the system, had they wanted to.
Quote by JTS
It is more to do with the FACT that they cannot control benefit fraud. It is now an organised industry in itself. Therefore control of those claiming benefit and not "cheating" is essential.
Don't forget: there are enough jobs out there for every unemployed person.
There is no reason that an unemployed person (for instance a steel worker/miner) cannot retrain as a nurse, investment banker or neurosurgeon.
They may even be able to get elected as an mp....then they can become an expenses fraudster instead of a benefit cheat.
And do not fall into the trap of thinking the problem is made by labour...the same problems beset the last conservative governments....the reality is that those elected have no control (or very little) over those that are there no matter which bunch of elected fraudsters are in the majority in the houses of pratliament.
I'm no epistemologist, but did I miss the change in the empirical method that decided an assertion becomes a fact if you type the word 'fact' in capitals or bold typefaces?
I'm not sure what the correct term is for the process of trying to follow non sequiturs to their illogical conclusion.
I must remember next time I'm in the club to tell any ex-miners I meet that they should retrain as a neurosurgeon. I may need the services of a facio-maxillary surgeon afterwards, but it'll be an interesting real world test of the power of assertion. (Incidentally, I know several MPs who're ex-miners and ex-steelworkers)
Out of interest i Goggled myself about cheats and have come up with two articals.
The second one is....
Now one is a typical blame everyone else culture, especially those a tad more richer than the norm.
The other one makes so much sense to the wise.
Guess which one I think is right?
Oh and btw....a billion pounds a year might be tiny compared to the MP's or Bankers but...to the average Joe taxpayer public, it is a shit load of money taken by a few minorities ( yeah right ), plus those same cheats are the ones going to the doctors and getting their free bloody prescriptions as well.
I have to pay for them so i feel so should everybody else.
The second one is....
Now one is a typical blame everyone else culture, especially those a tad more richer than the norm.
The other one makes so much sense to the wise.
Guess which one I think is right?
Oh and btw....a billion pounds a year might be tiny compared to the MP's or Bankers but...to the average Joe taxpayer public, it is a shit load of money taken by a few minorities ( yeah right ), plus those same cheats are the ones going to the doctors and getting their free bloody prescriptions as well.
I have to pay for them so i feel so should everybody else.
Quote by kentswingers777
Out of interest i Goggled myself about cheats and have come up with two articals.
The second one is....
Now one is a typical blame everyone else culture, especially those a tad more richer than the norm.
The other one makes so much sense to the wise.
Guess which one I think is right?
Oh and btw....a billion pounds a year might be tiny compared to the MP's or Bankers but...to the average Joe taxpayer public, it is a shit load of money taken by a few minorities ( yeah right ), plus those same cheats are the ones going to the doctors and getting their free bloody prescriptions as well.
I have to pay for them so i feel so should everybody else.
Have you ever googled anger management?
Quote by Kaznkev
How many times Kenty, i dont read the Guardian,only Private Eye
Then they must be run by the same people with the same ideals as the Guardian.
i am talking about the focus which invalidity benifit checks take,which mean that the asumption is you should be working and are trying to play the system,rather than looking at each case objectivly.
Because a lot of people are playing the system, and a lot of those people should be working, and when you have THAT interview in todays world I would have thought they did look at each case objectivly.
There is a very clear difference to disability living allowance,which looks instead at the supporting evidence supplied by proffesionals who have some knowledge of the applicant and there real needs.
I would have thought that anyone who was ill had at some point been to their GP? Then if that ill they cannot work, for the GP to refere them to a hospital?
i am not saying money is not lost thru cheats,what i am saying is that a compassionate but fair system would not be designed as the current one is.
Yes you did say that only the way you put it across was that it is only a tiny ammount of people stealing a rather small sum of money, and that only the right wingers out there think it is an issue worth talking about, as it is just so insignificant as an issue. A billion pounds is not an insignificant sum of money.
The current system seems to work fine, but what I would advocate is a complete overhaul of the welfare system....make it much much tougher for the cheats. But hey....they is only a small minority eh? :sad:
Quote by kentswingers777
How many times Kenty, i dont read the Guardian,only Private Eye
Then they must be run by the same people with the same ideals as the Guardian.
i am talking about the focus which invalidity benifit checks take,which mean that the asumption is you should be working and are trying to play the system,rather than looking at each case objectivly.
Because a lot of people are playing the system, and a lot of those people should be working, and when you have THAT interview in todays world I would have thought they did look at each case objectivly.
There is a very clear difference to disability living allowance,which looks instead at the supporting evidence supplied by proffesionals who have some knowledge of the applicant and there real needs.
I would have thought that anyone who was ill had at some point been to their GP? Then if that ill they cannot work, for the GP to refere them to a hospital?
i am not saying money is not lost thru cheats,what i am saying is that a compassionate but fair system would not be designed as the current one is.
Yes you did say that only the way you put it across was that it is only a tiny ammount of people stealing a rather small sum of money, and that only the right wingers out there think it is an issue worth talking about, as it is just so insignificant as an issue. A billion pounds is not an insignificant sum of money.
The current system seems to work fine, but what I would advocate is a complete overhaul of the welfare system....make it much much tougher for the cheats. But hey....they is only a small minority eh? :sad:
Benefit fraud comes to about £1billion a year, less than one percent of the benefits budget.
Tax evasion comes to about £15billion a year. What would you recommend for the tax system?
And on the wider issue, why do you think the media make much greater play of the level of benefit fraud as opposed to tax 'evasion' (rather than the more honest 'tax fraud')?
Quote by awayman
I wish it was true people on benifits got it free, my mum is on invalidity and takes 8 different pills a day,all of which she has to pay for.
It seems to me that if a doctor has prescribed a medicine it is a necessity,and should therefore be free,but thats my leftie loonines i suppose
Bloody hell, it's 1950 all over again, and major credit to anyone who can name the two ministers who resigned along with Bevan over this issue.
Prescription, dental and opticians charges are a form of additional tax that is intended to ration NHS services, and from which people on some means tested benefits are exempt.
The NHS in Scotland and Wales has been directed by its political masters to use the money available under the national settlement to subsidize prescription charges. The price in Wales has been much longer waiting lists than in England because they've used the money that was used for waiting list reduction in England to keep prescription charges down. So it's not a subsidy to Wales from England, except in the general sense of the Barnett formula.
Me? I'd make prescriptions free as well.
Where is me credit then? :lol:
Quote by kentswingers777
I wish it was true people on benifits got it free, my mum is on invalidity and takes 8 different pills a day,all of which she has to pay for.
It seems to me that if a doctor has prescribed a medicine it is a necessity,and should therefore be free,but thats my leftie loonines i suppose
Bloody hell, it's 1950 all over again, and major credit to anyone who can name the two ministers who resigned along with Bevan over this issue.
Prescription, dental and opticians charges are a form of additional tax that is intended to ration NHS services, and from which people on some means tested benefits are exempt.
The NHS in Scotland and Wales has been directed by its political masters to use the money available under the national settlement to subsidize prescription charges. The price in Wales has been much longer waiting lists than in England because they've used the money that was used for waiting list reduction in England to keep prescription charges down. So it's not a subsidy to Wales from England, except in the general sense of the Barnett formula.
Me? I'd make prescriptions free as well.
Where is me credit then? :lol:
Well done.... :lol:
