What is the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme?

For people on a low income who travel to NHS hospital or specialist appointments.

Applies to: England Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

The Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme refunds reasonable travel costs to NHS specialist or hospital appointments in England if you are on a low income.

You or your partner must get a qualifying benefit, such as Pension Credit Guarantee Credit or qualifying Universal Credit, or have an HC2 or HC3 certificate.
You must be referred for specialist NHS treatment or tests, on a separate visit from when you were referred.
It covers the cheapest reasonable transport, plus unavoidable parking and tolls.
Claim at the hospital cashier, or by post on form HC5(T) within 3 months.

Different in Wales and Northern Ireland

Wales and Northern Ireland run their own schemes, with refunds usually given at the hospital.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Scotland: Check mygov.scot for Scotland
Wales: Check gov.wales for Wales
Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

Refunds travel to NHS referrals
Needs benefit or HC2/HC3
UC: take-home £435 or £935
Claim within 3 months

What you can get back

The scheme refunds the cost of getting to NHS treatment after a referral. There is no fixed weekly amount. You get back what you reasonably spent.

Cost	What the scheme pays
Bus, train or other public transport	The fare, using the cheapest reasonable option
Your own car	Mileage at your local integrated care board's rate
Parking and tolls	Unavoidable charges
Congestion Charge and ULEZ (London)	Can be claimed
Taxi	Only if agreed in advance with the hospital or integrated care board
Someone travelling with you	Their costs, if a healthcare professional says it is medically necessary

If you have an HC2 certificate you get full help. An HC3 certificate gives limited help, based on your income.

Who qualifies

All three must apply:

You or your partner get a qualifying benefit, or you are named on an HC2 or HC3 certificate.
A healthcare professional has referred you to a specialist or hospital for NHS treatment or tests.
The appointment is on a separate visit from the one where you were referred.

Qualifying benefits include Pension Credit Guarantee Credit and Universal Credit within the earnings limits. People getting a War Pension or Armed Forces Compensation can claim for treatment of their accepted disability.

Universal Credit earnings limits (2026/27)

Your award	Take-home pay in last assessment period
No child element and no limited capability for work	£435 or less
Includes a child element or limited capability for work	£935 or less

For couples, it is your combined pay. If you are not on a qualifying benefit, apply to the NHS Low Income Scheme on form HC1. You usually cannot get help with savings over £16,000 (£23,250 in a care home).

Worked examples

Example 1. Aisha gets Universal Credit with no children. She earned £300 last month, under the £435 limit. She goes to 6 hospital appointments, and the return bus fare is £5.80 each time. She gets back 6 x £5.80 = £34.80.

Example 2. A couple on Universal Credit with a child earn £900 together, under the £935 limit, so they qualify. If they earned £1,000, they would not qualify through Universal Credit, but could apply to the Low Income Scheme.

How to claim

At the hospital: take your receipts, your appointment letter or card, and proof of your benefit to the hospital cashiers' office.
By post: fill in form HC5(T) and send it within 3 months of your appointment.

What is not covered

Routine visits to a GP, dentist or other primary care service.
Out-of-hours urgent primary care.
Vaccinations and cervical screening.

If the NHS arranges treatment abroad, you can claim travel from home to the port, airport or rail terminal where you leave Great Britain.

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Wales: use the cheapest reasonable transport. The hospital usually refunds you on the day. If not, use form HC5W(T).
Northern Ireland: claim at the hospital, or up to 3 months later on form HC5. If you drive, you can claim petrol up to the cost of public transport, plus unavoidable parking.
Scotland: this scheme is for England. NHS Scotland has its own help with travel costs, so ask your hospital before you travel.

Related guides

Where these figures come from

NHS: Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS)
NHSBSA: Help with health costs (HC11), April 2026
NHSBSA: HC3 certificates (limited help)
Welsh Government: Get help with NHS travel costs
nidirect: Hospital travel costs scheme
NHS inform: Help with health costs in Scotland

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Check the travel costs scheme

Common questions

Can I claim petrol for driving to hospital?

Yes. You can claim mileage at your local integrated care board's rate, plus unavoidable parking and tolls.

Can I claim for someone who comes with me?

Yes, if your healthcare professional says it is medically necessary for someone to travel with you.

Can I claim for a GP appointment?

No. Routine visits to a GP, dentist or other primary care service are not covered.

Official sources

1.NHS: Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS)www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/healthcare-travel-costs-scheme-htcs/
2.Welsh Government: Get help with NHS travel costswww.gov.wales/get-help-nhs-travel-costs
3.nidirect: Hospital travel costs schemewww.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/hospital-travel-costs-scheme

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

Information from the NHS website is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Ask about your situation

Please don't include your name, address, National Insurance number or health details. See our privacy notice.