Prescription Pre-payment Certificates (PPCs)

	Telephone Advice/Order Line 0845 850 0030
	On-line PPC Sales - General Public Warning - this application is currently unavailable until 15.00 today, Thursday 28th July 2005, due to essential maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience.
	PPC Direct "On-line" - Registered Pharmacies Warning - this application is currently unavailable until 15.00 today, Thursday 28th July 2005, due to essential maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience.
	General Enquiry

People who have to pay for more than 5 prescription items in 4 months, or 14 items in 12 months, could save money by buying a PPC. From 1 April 2006, the charge for a single prescription item is £6.65, whereas a 4-month PPC will cost you £34.65 and a 12-month PPC £95.30.

From 1 October 2002, the Authority's PPC Issue Office became responsible for issuing PPCs on behalf of the Department of Health for England. This service was carried out by Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts and Agencies prior to 1 October 2002.

IMPORTANT - some people can get free prescriptions. You should check whether you could get free prescriptions before buying a PPC. For information click here.

Leaflet HC11 (Help with Health Costs) is also obtainable from Post Offices, some pharmacies and GP surgeries. Alternatively, by writing to:
Department of Health, PO Box 777, LONDON SE1 6XH.

About the Prescription Prepayment Certificate

You can only use a PPC, an example of which is shown on the right, for your own NHS prescriptions.

It is our intention to send reminder letters to those patients who hold a PPC, which is about to expire. However, please remember to apply for a new PPC in good time, otherwise you will have to pay charges when your old PPC runs out.

If you have to pay a prescription charge while you are waiting for your PPC, you may get a refund if you have an NHS receipt. The NHS receipt form is an FP57 (England). The pharmacist or dispensing doctor can only issue an FP57 at the time you pay for a prescription charge; they cannot give you one later. You can claim the prescription charge(s) back up to 3 months after paying, the FP57 tells you what to do.

The PPC Application Process

There are four ways, which you can apply for a PPC:

1. Over the Internet via our Website - General Public

To order a PPC via our website please click here.

NB** A minimum of 128 Encryption is needed for this application **

If your browser does not support 128-bit encryption, please visit the website that provides upgrades to your browser software. If you are using a Microsoft or Netscape browser, you should upgrade to Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 or later or Netscape Navigator 6.2 or later:

Microsoft® Internet Explorer 128-Bit Browser (Windows Users)
Microsoft® Internet Explorer 128-Bit Browser (Macintosh Users)

Netscape Navigator® 128-Bit Browser (Windows & Macintosh Users)

2. Over the Telephone

To order a PPC over the telephone, please have your credit or debit card ready and ring our order line. The local call rate number for this service is 0845 850 0030.

You will normally receive your certificate within 14 days of placing your order.

Your PPC will start from the date we receive your phone call unless you ask for a different start date. This can be up to one month earlier or later than the date of your phone call.

3. Postal Applications

If you want to apply by post, please complete the PPC application form FP95, available from pharmacies and doctors surgeries. You can also download an application form in portable document format by clicking here.

When you have completed and signed the form, send it with your cheque, postal order or credit/debit card details to:

Prescription Pricing Authority
PPC Issue Office
PO Box 854
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
NE99 2DE

Our PPC Issue Office aim to process postal applications within 21 days of receiving the form.

Your PPC will start from the date we receive your postal application unless you ask for a different start date. This can be up to one month earlier or later than the date we receive your postal application.

4. From a Pharmacy Registered to Sell PPCs

Prior to 1 October 2002, a number of Health Authority areas had arrangements for pharmacies to sell PPCs on their behalf. Those pharmacies were invited to continue to do so on our behalf.

To purchase a PPC at a registered pharmacy you must either:

A list of the pharmacies that have registered with us to sell PPCs on our behalf is available here.

Your PPC will start from the date you purchase your PPC or complete an "On-line" application at a pharmacy registered to sell PPCs on our behalf unless you ask for a different start date. This can be up to one month earlier or later than the date you purchase your PPC or complete the "On-line" application.

Refunds of PPC Fees

If you wish to claim a refund of your PPC fee please send the original certificate and a letter explaining why you want a refund to:

Prescription Pricing Authority
PPC Issue Office
PO Box 854
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
NE99 2DE

A full refund may be claimed for 4 or 12-month PPC fees if, within the first month, you become entitled to free prescriptions or the holder dies.

A proportional refund may be claimed for 4 or 12-month PPC fees if the holder dies after the first month.

A partial refund may be claimed for 12-month PPC fees if, within months 2-4 of the PPC, you become entitled to free prescriptions.

For full details on PPC refund arrangements including the time limit for claiming a refund check leaflet HC11 (Help with Health Costs) available here.

Leaflet HC11 (Help with Health Costs) is also obtainable from Post Offices, some pharmacies and GP surgeries. Alternatively, by writing to:
Department of Health, PO Box 777, LONDON SE1 6XH.

Frequently Asked Questions

Important Information for Pharmacists and Doctors Surgeries

Further supplies of the PPC application forms are available from your Primary Care Trust (PCT) Form Supply Unit (this may be a different organisation from the PCT) or Health Authority, which is the same place you have always ordered them from and is the same place that you get your Prescription receipt forms (FP57).

Further supplies of the envelopes used to send PPC applications to us by pharmacies registered to sell PPCs on our behalf are available from us by contacting: