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Welfare Benefits - Information

-  Can I Claim?
-  Cost of Medicines
-  Council Tax
-  Dental Treatment
-  Eye Treatment
-  Illness

 

Welfare Benefits - Can I Claim?

When you enter the UK as an international student it is a condition that you must be able to accommodate and support yourself (and any dependants) without recourse to public funds. Public funds include, Income Support (for those unemployed), Housing Benefit (help towards rent), Family Credit (for families on low income), Council Tax Benefit (help towards paying this tax on the house in which you live). Non-EEA national students are prohibited by the immigration rules from claiming these benefits. If you do claim any of these benefits it is likely to affect your immigration status as you have broken the immigration rules. By doing this any future application you make to extend your leave to remain may be refused.

If you are an EEA national or the dependant of an EEA national on a full-time course, you may be able to claim benefits if you are 'habitually resident' in the UK, and are in a vulnerable category, such as a lone parent

There are some kinds of benefits that international students may be able to claim. Details can be found on the menu on the left

 

Cost of Medicines

Under the NHS you will be asked to pay something towards the cost of prescriptions. Some of these and other medicines can be bought from the pharmacy counter at chemists. Some medicines are only available on a doctor's prescription.

 

Council Tax

Most adult residents in the UK have to pay Council Tax, which is related to the property they occupy. This tax is calculated on a daily basis, and liable persons are normally entitled to pay the bill in ten monthly instalments. You may or may not have to pay Council Tax depending on where you live and who you live with, although you may as a student be eligible for a discount. The Council Tax will not apply to your dwelling if the adult residents are 'full-time' students. If you live together with your family and no other student is sharing your dwelling you will not have to pay the tax, as long as your spouse and children have been admitted to the UK as dependants, meaning they cannot claim public funds.

 

Dental Treatment

You should try to have your teeth checked by a dentist at least once a year. You can find lists of dentists who give NHS treatment at local main post offices. You need to be registered with a doctor in order to qualify fro NHS dental treatment otherwise you will have to pay the full cost. Once you have been accepted by a dentist offering NHS treatment you will have to give the dentist the NHS number on your medical card. There is a charge for all dental treatment, including check ups. The dentist will ask you to sign a dental estimation of the treatment's costs, of which you will have to pay up to a maximum of, currently £300 during any course of treatment.

If you think you are eligible for a refund on the basis of low income, you should complete Form AG1 and AG5, within a month of the date on your receipt. Form HC1 is available from Student service.

Students who have completed a HC1 form and have received a document saying they are entitled to help with dental treatment are not automatically guaranteed to have free treatment.

You will have to find a dental practice in the local area who is accepting NHS patients.

This can be quite difficult as most dentists are only accepting private patients. Unfortunately, if you are unable to find an NHS dentist you will have to pay the full cost of any dental treatment carried out.

If you need emergency treatment then the nearest clinic is
(will provide in future)

This Dental Access Centre provides

NHS treatment to patients not currently registered with a dentist

A full range of NHS treatments but DO NOT register new patients

Treatment at standard NHS charges

Information on other local NHS dental services

This service is to allow unregistered patients to get access to dental care

 

Eye Treatment

You will have to pay a minimum charge for an eye test on the NHS. If the test shows you need glasses or contact lenses the optician will give you a prescription. The cost of frames and lenses varies considerably so it is a good idea to check with several opticians before buying.

You can apply for help with the cost of your glasses on the basis of low income in the same way as for medical and dental treatment.

If you have already paid for your glasses you cannot apply for a refund afterwards.

 

Illness

If your course of study is for six months or more, you can get free health care from the British medical scheme known as the National Health Service (NHS). If you have a spouse and children under the age of sixteen, or nineteen if still at school, they will also be entitled to NHS treatment.

If you are from a country with which the UK has a reciprocal health agreement you will be covered even if your course is for less than six months, but only if the need for treatment arose while you were visitng Britain. You can register as a patient with an NHS General Practitioner and also get free treatment in an NHS hospital.

If your course is for less than six months, you should take out health insurance from a reputable company to cover yourself and your dependants.

University Nurse

The University nurse, Sally Arnott holds a daily clinic, held in Room 11, St James' Hall between 10.00 and 12.00 Monday to Friday during the University semester. This is organised on an appointment system and Sally is happy to see any student who has any health concerns, feels unwell, is experiencing personal problems or just feels the need to talk to someone. Resident students, who feel too unwell to attend personally, can be visited in their room, provided Sally is contacted before 11.00.

Meningitis Group C and Mumps Measles and Rubella (MMR) vaccinations
There are usually a few student who have slipped through the net for the above vaccinations. If you have not had one or both of these vaccinations please contact the Nurse URGENTLY.

Making an appointment
For an appointment to see Sally, please telephone Student Services Reception on 01962 827341 (7341 internally), or email Welfare@winchester.ac.uk.

Sally is able to offer support to students with mental health problems, including eating disorders and self harm.

Further Links
Visit the Meningitis Trust Website: www.meningitis-trust.org.uk  24 - Hour Helpline: 0845 6000 800
Also visit the Meningitis Research Foundation www.meningitis.org  24-Hour Helpline: 01454 413344