Citation, commencement, extent and application

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (Travel Expenses and Remission of Charges, Ophthalmic Services, and Optical Charges and Payments) (Amendment) Regulations 2026.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), these Regulations come into force on 15th April 2026.

(3) Regulation 1 comes into force on 1st April 2026.

(4) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and apply in relation to England only(2).

Amendments to the National Health Service (Travel Expenses and Remission of Charges) Regulations 2003

2.—(1) The National Health Service (Travel Expenses and Remission of Charges) Regulations 2003(3) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2 (interpretation)—

(a)in the definition of “family”—

(i)for “applies to income support” substitute “applied to income support on 31 March 2026”, and

(ii)omit sub-paragraph (a); and

(b)omit the definitions of “income-based jobseeker’s allowance” and “income support”.

(3) In regulation 5 (entitlement to full remission and payment), in paragraph (1)—

(a)omit sub-paragraphs (a) and (b); and

(b)in sub-paragraph (d), omit “income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance,”.

(4) In regulation 16 (calculation of resources), after paragraph (4), insert—

“(5) The calculation of a claimant’s resources is to take account of any modification of the application of the Income Support Regulations that the Secretary of State considers necessary or desirable for the purpose of ensuring that, where a person’s resources are calculated in accordance with the provisions of this Part and Schedule 1, the entitlement of that person to benefits as a member of the NHS low income scheme is similar to that of a person who is a relevant universal credit recipient for the purposes of regulation 5(1)(f).

(6) Paragraph (5) ceases to have effect on 1 April 2027.”.

Amendments to the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 2013

3.—(1) The National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 2013(4) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 1 (citation, commencement and interpretation), in paragraph (2), omit the definitions of “capital limit”, “child tax credit”, “disability element”, “an income based jobseeker’s allowance”, “income support”, “relevant income”, “severe disability element” and “working tax credit”.

(3) In regulation 8 (eligibility for a voucher - supply of optical appliances)—

(a)in paragraph (3), omit sub-paragraphs (a), (d), (e), (f) and (g); and

(b)in paragraph (4)—

(i)in sub-paragraph (a)—

(aa)omit “(a),”, and

(bb)for “applies to income support” substitute “applied to income support on 31st March 2026”, and

(ii)omit sub-paragraphs (b) and (c).

(4) Omit regulation 13 (notice of entitlement).

Amendments to the Primary Ophthalmic Services Regulations 2008

4.—(1) The Primary Ophthalmic Services Regulations 2008(5) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2 (interpretation), in paragraph (1) omit the definitions of “child tax credit”, “disability element”, “gross annual income”, “an income based jobseeker’s allowance”, “income support”, “relevant income”, “severe disability element” and “working tax credit”.

(3) In regulation 3 (sight tests - eligibility)—

(a)in paragraph (2), omit sub-paragraphs (a), (b), (e), (f) and (g); and

(b)in paragraph (4)—

(i)in sub-paragraph (a)—

(aa)omit “(b),”, and

(bb)for “applies to income support” substitute “applied to income support on 31st March 2026”, and

(ii)omit sub-paragraphs (b) and (c).