# Optical Charges and Payments Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997, Regulation 20: Payments to patients in respect of the supply, replacement or repair of optical appliances

Extent: N.I.

(1) A payment may be made under this regulation to a person of a description prescribed by regulation 8(2) or 15(1) who pays for the supply, repair or replacement of an optical appliance without exercising his right under regulation 9(1), 10(1) or 15(1) to a payment to meet or contribute towards the cost incurred for the supply, replacement or repair of such optical appliance.
(2) A patient who wishes to receive a payment under this regulation must—
(a) make a claim to the Department if he considers that he falls within the description specified in regulation 8(2)(b) or (c); or
(b) in all other cases, make a claim to the Agency.
(3) Any such claim must be made within 3 months after the date of the supply or repair of the optical appliance, or within such further period as the Department or the Agency may for good cause allow, and that claim must be made on a form provided by or on behalf of the Department or the Agency for that purpose.
(4) It is a further condition of entitlement to a refund under paragraph (1) that the patient produces in support of his claim such evidence as the Department or the Agency may reasonably require including the receipt for any fee paid for the supply or repair.
(5) Where the Department is satisfied that the patient is entitled to a refund as a result of a claim under paragraph (2)(a), it shall authorise in writing the refund of the amount in question to the patient by the Agency, and on receipt of such authorisation, the Agency shall make a refund to the patient of an amount equal to the redemption value of the voucher which could have been completed under regulation 9, 10 or 16 if the patient had satisfied the requirements of regulation 9(1), 10(1) or 16(4) as the case may be.
(6) Where the Agency is satisfied that the patient is entitled to a refund as a result of a claim under paragraph (2)(b), it shall make a refund to the patient of an amount equal to the redemption value of the voucher which could have been completed under regulation 9, 10 or 16 if the patient had satisfied the requirements of regulation 9(1), 10(1) or 16(4) as the case may be.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/1997/191/regulation/20 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/optical-charges-and-payments-regulations-northern-ireland-1997/regulation-20
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.