Patient refunds - HC5s

If you have a HC3 certificate for limited help with health costs, the amount of your refund will be the difference between the relevant voucher value and the amount your certificate says you have to pay. 

For glasses and contact lenses, the maximum refund anyone can have from NHS England is the voucher value that matches their prescription. This may be different to the amount that you paid for your glasses.  

From 1 April, refunds will only be made by BACS (bank transfer). If you submit an HC5 on or after 1 April, you will not be sent a refund by cheque. 

If you submit an HC5 up to 31 March 2024, and you have changed address since completing your application for a refund, please notify us via the online form so we are able to look into the matter for you.

If you simply haven’t received the cheque refund for an HC5 submitted up to the end of March, please complete an enquiry via the online form:

• answer 'No' to 'Is your enquiry related to a transformed submission?'
• select the capacity in which you are submitting the form i.e. Contractor/Optical Practice
• select the ‘HC5 Patient Refund’ option from the Type of Enquiry drop down

An HC5 (O) form can be used to claim back the cost of a sight test, glasses or contact lenses on low income grounds. For glasses and contact lenses, the maximum refund anyone can have is the voucher value that matches their prescription.

Find out more on our HC5 (O) refund page.