The ‘Help with Health and Travel Costs’ scheme provides financial assistance to individuals on a low income, or who receive certain benefits or allowances, and require Health Service treatment. The scheme aims to ensure that the most vulnerable individuals can access necessary healthcare by covering costs such as travel costs, dental treatment, and eye sight tests. 

The Strangford MLA said: “The Minister of Health has still not brought forward the legislative updates to the ‘Help with Health and Travel Costs’ scheme to enable people on Universal Credit in Northern Ireland to have automatic entitlement. This update was made to the rest of the UK some time ago, whilst people here continue to wait for delivery. 

“The scheme provides free access to eye sight tests, dental treatment, help with the cost of travel to hospital appointments and hearing tests for people on benefits and allowances. However, people on Universal Credit have to complete an HC1 form and do not automatically get help. 

“I have had many constituents who are on Universal Credit contact me, frustrated that they have had to pay for services such as dental treatment because they didn’t know they needed to have an HC1 completed. 

“The legislation needs a simple change by adding Universal Credit to the list of benefits with automatic access. In Northern Ireland, access to healthcare continues to be a struggle for many, and it’s time people here had the same access to help as the rest of the UK. I urge the Minister to update this legislation, enabling many more individuals to receive the care they need.”