Common free-prescription routes (England)
- Age: under 16; 16–18 in full-time education; 60+
- Valid maternity exemption certificate
- Valid medical exemption certificate for listed conditions
- Universal Credit under £435 / £935 take-home limits
- Named on a valid HC2 certificate
- Certain qualifying benefits (for example Pension Credit Guarantee Credit) — always check current lists
- Valid PPC covering the dispensing date
Common traps: New Style JSA/ESA alone, PIP/DLA alone, Savings Credit alone, expired certificates, and “I’m on Universal Credit” without checking earnings.