Request

For the last 5 financial years to 30 April 2025

1. How many PCN charges have been issued in total and what was their monetary value

2. How many of those total PCN charges issued were to people in receipt of contribution-based job seekers allowance and what was their monetary value

3. Of the PCN charges issued to those in receipt of contribution-based job seekers allowance how many PCNs were challenged

4. Of the PCN challenges from people in receipt of contribution-based job seekers allowance how many were upheld

Response

I can confirm that the NHSBSA holds some of the information you have requested.

Question 1

In the past five financial years, for the prescription exemption checking service, 1,700,660 PCNs have been issued which totaled £165,838,388.41 in charges.

This data covers financial years from 1 April 2020 up to and including March 2025; April 2025 is not included.

Question 2,3 and 4

I am writing to advise you that following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that the information you requested is not held by the NHSBSA. A prescription doesn't show contribution-based job seekers allowance as an option for claiming free prescriptions as this does not entitle patients to free prescriptions. We do not hold information on what non-qualifying benefits patients may have been receiving.

Data Queries

Please contact foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk ensuring you quote the above reference if you have any specific questions regarding this response; or, if you feel you may be misunderstanding or misinterpreting the information; or, if you plan on publishing the data.

Reusing the data and copyright

If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is subject to NHSBSA copyright. This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence detailed at: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “NHSBSA Copyright 2025” This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence.

Information you receive which is not subject to NHSBSA Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. Please obtain their permission before reproducing any third party (non NHSBSA Copyright) information.