The Social Security (Information-sharing) (NHS Payments and Remission of Charges etc.) (England) Regulations 2015

Prescribed purposes relating to charges for NHS ophthalmic goods and services E+W+S

7.—(1) The purposes set out in paragraph (2) are prescribed—

(a) under section 131(3) of the 2012 Act (information-sharing in relation to welfare services etc.) as purposes for which information may be held by a qualifying person mentioned in regulation 3(1) or (5);

(b) under section 131(3)(a) of the 2012 Act as purposes for which information may be used by a qualifying person mentioned in regulation 3(1) or (5); and

(c) under section 131(3)(b) of the 2012 Act as purposes for which information may be supplied by a qualifying person to another qualifying person mentioned in regulation 3(1) or (5).

(2) The purposes are—

(a) identifying persons in receipt of a relevant social security benefit, or who are members of a family one member of which is in receipt of a relevant social security benefit, for the purposes of identifying whether or not, on the grounds of receiving a relevant social security benefit, they are entitled to—

(i) sight tests under the POS Regulations,

(ii) an exemption from charges in respect of the supply of glasses or contact lenses under the OCP Regulations,

(iii) an exemption from charges in respect of the supply or repair of an optical appliance under the CA Regulations,

(iv) vouchers in substitution for payments for sight tests under the OCP Regulations, or

(v) vouchers to meet or contribute towards the costs of optical appliances under the OCP Regulations,

and providing appropriate advice, assistance and support in relation to whether or not they are so entitled; and

(b) identifying persons who—

(i) are not in receipt of a relevant social security benefit, or are not members of a family one member of which is in receipt of a relevant social security benefit, or

(ii) are in receipt of a relevant social security benefit, or are members of a family one member of which is in receipt of a relevant social security benefit, but from whom a charge is recoverable under the CDA Regulations,

but who have claimed, are claiming or are proposing to claim entitlement to a sight test, exemption or voucher mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) on the grounds of receiving a relevant social security benefit, in order to perform as appropriate the functions set out in paragraph (3).

(3) The functions are—

(a) providing the persons mentioned in paragraph (2)(b) with advice, assistance and support in relation to entitlement to—

(i) sight tests under the POS Regulations,

(ii) an exemption from charges in respect of the supply of glasses or contact lenses under the OCP Regulations,

(iii) an exemption from charges in respect of the supply or repair of an optical appliance under the CA Regulations,

(iv) vouchers in substitution for payments for sight tests under the OCP Regulations, or

(v) vouchers to meet or contribute towards the costs of optical appliances under the OCP Regulations,

on the grounds of receiving a relevant social security benefit;

(b) making and recovery of charges payable by, and the recovery of payments, from the persons mentioned in paragraph (2)(b) under section 192 of the 2006 Act (recovery of charges and payments in relation to goods and services);

(c) making and recovery of penalty charges payable by persons mentioned in paragraph (2)(b) under section 193 of the 2006 Act (penalties relating to charges); and

(d) conducting proceedings in relation to persons mentioned in paragraph (2)(b) under section 194 of the 2006 Act (offences relating to charges).

Commencement Information

I1 Reg. 7 in force at 1.4.2015, see reg. 1(1)