Explanatory note

These Regulations further amend the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 1989 ( “the principal Regulations”), which provide for payments to be made by means of a voucher system in respect of costs incurred by certain categories of persons in connection with the supply, replacement and repair of optical appliances.

Regulation 2 of these Regulations amends regulation 1 of the principal Regulations in order to include a definition of an income-based jobseeker’s allowance.

Regulation 3(2)(a) of these Regulations removes the capital restriction relating to disability working allowance so that everyone in receipt of this, and certain of their relatives, will be eligible for payments towards the cost of optical appliances.

Regulation 3(2)(b) and (3) of these Regulations extends the categories of eligibility for payments towards the costs of optical appliances to include people in receipt of an income-based jobseeker’s allowance, and also certain relatives of such people.