NHS · Earnings-testedVerified May 2026 against NHSBSA published thresholds

Free eye test on Universal Credit

Universal Credit qualifies you for a free NHS sight test, but only if your earnings in the most recent assessment period fall below the published threshold. The threshold is either 435 pounds or 935 pounds depending on which Universal Credit elements you receive. Read on for the exact rules and what evidence to bring.

The two earnings thresholds

The NHS Business Services Authority operates two thresholds for Universal Credit eligibility for free sight tests. Which one applies to you depends on which Universal Credit elements your household receives.

Lower threshold

£435 or less

Applies if your Universal Credit award does not include the limited capability for work element, the limited capability for work-related activity element, or the child element. This is the most common case for single working-age claimants.

Higher threshold

£935 or less

Applies if your Universal Credit award includes the limited capability for work element, the limited capability for work-related activity element, or the child element. This is the common case for households with children or disability elements in the award.

Both thresholds are calculated on net earnings within the most recent assessment period. An assessment period is the calendar month-long window the DWP uses to calculate your Universal Credit award. The earnings figure is what is shown on your Universal Credit statement under earnings before deductions for that period (or zero if you had no earnings).

If your most recent assessment period was above the threshold but your previous one was below, you do not qualify for a free test today. Time the sight test for a month when you know earnings will be lower, if your earnings vary.

What evidence to bring to the appointment

Universal Credit statement screenshot. Log in to your journal, find the most recent statement, screenshot the page that shows the assessment period dates and the earnings amount. Most opticians accept a phone screen; some want a printout.
Photo ID. Optional but speeds up the GOS1 form. A driving licence, passport, or photocard works. If you have no photo ID, a utility bill plus a current bank card with your name on it is usually accepted.
Your current glasses. Useful for the optometrist to measure your current prescription against the test result.

If you do not bring evidence, the optician may still proceed but you will be asked to sign a declaration on the GOS1 form. If a later NHS Business Services Authority check finds you were not eligible, you can be billed for the test and may receive a penalty charge of up to 100 pounds.

Your optical voucher towards glasses

Qualifying on Universal Credit grounds unlocks both the free sight test and an NHS optical voucher towards glasses. The voucher is paper or electronic and is given to you by the optician at the end of the test. You can use it at any optician that accepts NHS optical vouchers (every UK chain plus most independents, and several online retailers including Glasses Direct and SelectSpecs).

The voucher value depends on your prescription, not on which shop you use. A simple low-strength single vision prescription gets the lowest voucher (Band A, around 39.10 pounds). A complex bifocal prescription with very high strength gets the highest voucher (Band F, around 215.50 pounds). Most working-age adults with mild myopia or hyperopia get a Band A or Band B voucher.

The voucher covers a standard pair of glasses to the value of the band. If you choose frames or lens options that cost more, you pay the difference. Several chains have a free-with-voucher range that fits the Band A value, meaning you walk out with glasses at zero out-of-pocket cost. Asda Opticians, Specsavers, and Vision Express all advertise voucher-only ranges; ask at the dispensing counter.

What if your earnings put you over the threshold

If your Universal Credit earnings exceed the threshold but you are still on a low income, two alternative routes can help.

NHS Low Income Scheme (HC2/HC3)

Apply via form HC1. Assessment considers income, savings (typically below 16,000 pounds), and essential outgoings such as rent and council tax. An HC2 covers the full sight test cost; HC3 contributes towards it. Application is free, takes around six weeks.

Pay privately

Asda Opticians 20 pounds, Specsavers 25 pounds, Boots 29.95 pounds, Vision Express around 30 pounds. The test is clinically identical to the NHS-funded version.

Common questions

Do I qualify for a free eye test on Universal Credit?

You qualify if, in your most recent assessment period, you had no earnings or net earnings of 435 pounds or less, or if you received the limited capability for work, limited capability for work-related activity, or child element and had net earnings of 935 pounds or less. The threshold is reviewed periodically by the Department of Health and Social Care.

What proof do I need to show the optician?

Bring a screenshot or printout of your Universal Credit journal showing the most recent assessment period dates and the earnings amount. The optometrist will record the period dates on the GOS1 form. They have access to the NHS Business Services Authority eligibility checker to confirm.

Do I also qualify for help with glasses on Universal Credit?

Yes. If you qualify for the free sight test on Universal Credit grounds, you also qualify for an NHS optical voucher towards glasses. The voucher value ranges from around 39.10 pounds (Band A, simple single vision) to 215.50 pounds (Band F, complex bifocal). The voucher can be used at any optician including online retailers that accept them.

What if my earnings vary month to month?

Eligibility is checked against your most recent assessment period at the time of the eye test. If that period happened to be above the threshold but the previous one was below, you would not qualify for that test. If your earnings genuinely fluctuate above and below the threshold, time your sight test for a month when you know earnings will be lower.

Does Working Tax Credit or Tax Credits also qualify?

Tax Credits qualify only if you are receiving Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit with a disability element, or both, and your household income is below the NHS exemption threshold (around 15,276 pounds, reviewed annually). For most people Tax Credits have been migrated to Universal Credit; the legacy Tax Credits route is gradually closing.

What if I am self-employed on Universal Credit?

Self-employed Universal Credit claimants face the Minimum Income Floor in most cases, which assumes a notional minimum income whether or not you actually earned it. If your assumed earnings exceed 435 or 935 pounds, you do not qualify for the free sight test even if your real earnings were lower. Check the assessment statement carefully.

Sources

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