The National Health Service (Travel Expenses and Remission of Charges, Ophthalmic Services, and Optical Charges and Payments) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

These Regulations amend the National Health Service (Travel Expenses and Remission of Charges) Regulations 2003 (“the TERC Regulations”), National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 2013 and the Primary Ophthalmic Services Regulations 2008 to remove references to certain legacy benefits that are to be abolished by the Department for Work and Pension (“DWP”) with effect from 1st April 2026. Although those benefits are abolished from that date, some payments will continue to be made for a further two-week run‑on period. The removal of these references has the effect that entitlement to these legacy benefits will no longer provide a valid basis for entitlement to the reimbursement of travel expenses incurred in the course of obtaining NHS services, or for entitlement to exemption from NHS prescription, optical or dental charges.