Help with travel costs

You can claim help with travel costs if you or your partner (including civil partner) receive any of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Working Tax Credit (WTC) with Child Tax Credit (CTC)
• WTC with a disability element or a severe disability element
• CTC but you're not eligible for WTC
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• Universal Credit and meet the criteria

Check if you are eligible with the NHS Business Services Authority online eligibility checker.

Travel expenses, to and from hospital appointments will be reimbursed for the use of public transport, as well as mileage and parking costs.

Exceptions can be agreed depending on your age, medical condition or any other relevant factors, such as the availability of public transport.

Patients may be able to claim for travel by taxi if this supported by a letter from your consultant or GP.

Find more details about what you can claim on the NHS HTCS website.

To claim reimbursement, we need proof that you are in receipt of benefits, confirmation that you have attended your appointment and receipts for the costs incurred.

You must have all receipts when making a travel reimbursement claim. Without receipts, we are unable to reimburse your travel costs.

If you are requiring reimbursement for taxi costs, you will be required to show a letter of proof from your GP stating you are unable to take public transport and require a private taxi. Without this, we will be unable to process your claim.

Bring your receipts and documents to the Patient Affairs office, located next to the main reception at Watford General Hospital. It’s open Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm.

Alternatively, you can email your claim request and all relevant documents to westherts.patientaffairs@nhs.net.

If you need any help or advice, please call the Patient Affairs team on 01923 217114.