The National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 1997

20.—(1) A payment may be made under this regulation to a person of a description prescribed by regulation 8(2) or (15)(1) who pays for the supply, replacement or repair of an optical appliance without exercising his right under regulation 9(1), 10(1) or 15(1) to a payment to meet or contribute towards the cost incurred for the supply, replacement or repair of such optical appliance.

(2) A patient who wishes to receive a payment under this regulation must—

(a) make a claim to the Secretary of State if he considers that he falls within the description specified in regulation 8(2)(c) or (d); or

(b) in all other cases, make a claim to the responsible authority.

(3) Any such claim must be made within three months after the date of the supply, replacement or repair of the optical appliance, or within such further period as the Secretary of State or the responsible authority may for good cause allow, and that claim must be made on a form provided by or on behalf of the Secretary of State or the responsible authority for that purpose.

(4) It is a further condition of entitlement to a payment under paragraph (1) that the patient produces in support of his claim such evidence as the Secretary of State or the responsible authority may reasonably require including the receipt for any fee paid for the supply, replacement or repair.

(5) Where the Secretary of State is satisfied that the patient is entitled to a payment as a result of a claim under paragraph (2)(a), he shall authorise in writing the payment of the amount in question to the patient by the responsible authority, and on receipt of such authorisation, the responsible authority shall make a payment to the patient of an amount equal to the redemption value of the voucher which could have been completed under regulations 9, 10 or 16 if the patient had satisfied the requirements of regulations 9(1), 10(1) or 16(4) as the case may be.

(6) Where the responsible authority is satisfied that the patient is entitled to a payment as a result of a claim under paragraph (2)(b), it shall make a payment to the patient of an amount equal to the redemption value of the voucher which could have been completed under regulations 9, 10 or 16 if the patient had satisfied the requirements of regulations 9(1), 10(1) or 16(4) as the case may be.