The National Health Service (Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2004

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations further amend the National Health Service (Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges) Regulations 1988 (“the principal Regulations”) which provide for the remission of National Health Service (“NHS”) charges and for the payment of travelling expenses in certain cases.

Some persons are automatically entitled to the remission of NHS charges and to the payment of travelling expenses because they are in receipt of specified state benefits.

Regulation 3 of these Regulations amends regulation 4 of the principal Regulations (description of persons entitled to full remission and payment) to insert an increased figure for the relevant income limit which is used for the calculation of entitlement to working tax credit and child tax credit.

Many persons are not automatically entitled to the remission of NHS charges and payment of travelling expenses. The principal Regulations contain provision for a calculation of a claimant’s income, capital and requirements (and of those of his or her family, where relevant). This calculation is made applying the modified provisions of the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 that are set out in Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations.

Regulation 4 amends Table A of Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations to uprate the capital limits used in remission and repayment calculations relating to persons living permanently in residential care or nursing homes.