The Government has introduced new rules for claimants of Benefits of help at Opticians. With effect from the 19th of February Evidence of entitlement will be asked for when attending your Opticians for a NHS Sight Test and/or help towards the cost of spectacles. You will need to take evidence of age if you are between 13 and 19 and claiming for child entitlements, or if you are over 60 and claiming age related Free Sight Tests. If you receive benifits of any kind and are claiming Help towards the cost of your spectacles and Sight Test then you will need to take along with you your benifits book or the letters which were sent to you by the DHSS when you Qualified for benifits. All Opticians have been advised that where no evidence can be produced at the time of the test then the claimant will still be able have the sight test and claim the relevant help so no one will be turned away at the point of service. The new procedures will be introduced on a National basis and is designed to cut down on false claims by the public.