Hi everyone,
It has been some time since I last dropped in. As usual I have been busy. Don’t get me wrong, family members have been wonderful but getting extra support to free up my time is hard work. I am hoping everyone is managing me time for themselves.
Now I am just wondering if any carers are having issues with this organisation called NHSBSA?
We have been having free dental treatment. Then out of the blue I received (technically my brother) a letter from them. Somehow names and addresses are not recognised on their records. I am already disputing their penalty charges. The communication situation is a situation in itself. I feel as If I am in the twilight zone. Do they not have anyone they are answerable to. Is there an ombudsman?
Now that most benefits are now Universal Credit (I avoided them for years) we had no choice, that’s when this NHSBSA letter appeared not long after my brothers dental appointment. UC are surprised and stated that he is entitled to free dental treatment. I did contact the dentist practice…it took them by surprise.
I had a similar issue a while ago.
My son has learning difficulties, I’m his appointee, all DWP correspondence comes to my address, not his address.
When the dental system looked up his address, he wasn’t listed for free treatment at that address. £100 fine. However, when I contacted them, it was easily rectified, fine cancelled.
(I’m now having the same problem with BT refusing to give him a discount to his broadband!)
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Hi bowling bun,
The NHSBSA have been relentless.
I hoping it will come to a conclusion but they seem determined to get monies from us. My penalty dispute appears to be ignored. Power of attorney has been mentioned as if this is something you can get easily like sweets from a newsagent. We live under the same roof so I do not know how they come about not recognising the address etc etc.
No discount for broadband. That is odd. Maybe not all broadband suppliers do some discount but I still find that odd. The whole situation with NHSBSA felt so wrong so I am determined to get to the bottom of it. However I am concerned for those who do not have the time and perseverance to keep going and are scared into paying up even if they are entitled to free dental treatment.
There was an article on TV this week about a lot of patients getting fined for saying they were entitled to free dental treatment because they were on ?UC but apparently some rule has changed and people who used to be exempt are not exempt any more.
IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL IF CUK COULD INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND GIVE US SOME FEEDBACK!
Hi @erolly_1909
We were contacted by NHS fraud people saying S should have paid for his dental checks as he wasn’t exempt. They only wanted to deal with him (he is non verbal, doesn’t understand speech and can’t self advocate….)
I had to write a letter for him to sign to agree to me representing him. Laughable.
Anyway, it turned out the dentist hadn’t updated our new address on all their system so they were checking for benefits paid to him at our old address!! No apology from either about it being their error.
@bowlingbun I hadn’t heard of this latest twist re UC and dental costs …
There is an article about this here, with links:
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2026/03/universal-credit-prescription-fines/#:~:text=If%2520you’ve%2520moved%2520from,fined%2520up%2520to%2520£100.
NB it covers both prescription charges and dental care
Thanks Melly for digging that up, especially when you are having a tough time. Hopefully it will save someone getting a fine.
Surely it would have been simpler just to say when you are on Universal Credit you were exempt?!
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Thanks everyone for all the information.
It’s just I find the behaviour of NHSBSA distasteful. The UC team stated my brother is entitled to free dental treatment. I just wish things were more transparent and your not caught in a this web of confusion. The dental practice were surprised that they (the NHSBSA) did not recognised our address.
I have already sent a letter with my brothers signature, good luck if they can make out his scribbles.They do not seem to recognise what a disability is.