Guides › Health and Private Care › NHS Penalty Charge Notice for a Prescription or Dental Treatment
NHS Penalty Charge Notice for A Prescription or Dental Treatment
If you claim free NHS prescriptions or dental treatment you were not entitled to, you can get a Penalty Charge Notice. You pay the original charge plus a penalty of 5 times that amount, up to £100. If you do not reply to the first letter within 28 days a notice is sent, and a surcharge may be added if it is not paid. If you were entitled, respond with proof by the deadline.
At A Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Penalty Charges
The Amount
The original prescription or dental charge plus a penalty of 5 times the original amount, up to a maximum of £100. source
Deadlines
If you do not reply to the enquiry letter within 28 days, a Penalty Charge Notice is sent. If the notice is not paid within 28 days, a surcharge may be added. source
Responding
Respond by the deadline on your letter or you may get further charges. Use the online "respond to your letter" service, and check your entitlement with the eligibility checker. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 28 daysReply to the letterTo avoid a notice or surcharge
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Read the letter and note the deadline.
Step 2 of 5
Check whether you were entitled on that date.
Step 3 of 5
Send proof, such as a benefit award letter or certificate.
Step 4 of 5
Pay if you were not entitled, to avoid a surcharge.
Step 5 of 5
Use the eligibility checker before claiming again.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
NHS Business Services Authority
Runs exemption certificates, the Low Income Scheme and penalty charges.
Citizens Advice
Free, independent help with benefits, including challenges and appeals.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Universal Credit and Pension Credit Savings Credit do not always give free treatment, which is a common cause of penalties.
These rules are for England. Prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and help with other costs differs there.
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Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 16 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- nhsbsa.nhs.uk/understanding-penalty-charges Checked 16 October 2026
- nhsbsa.nhs.uk/penalty-charges Checked 16 October 2026