Opticians have three months to claim for CET loss of earnings

Optical practitioners can now claim their £425 for the loss of earnings in 2005 in respect of CET.

The payment, which is being made to optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners, was confirmed in a letter from head of ophthalmic services at the Department of Health, Derek Busby, sent to PCTs and those on PCT lists this week.

The payment results from an agreement between the DoH, optics and the British Medical Association. Eligible practitioners have from now until August 31 to claim their money, the letter confirms.

Claimants need to have been on a PCT’s ophthalmic list, or assisted a contractor in the provision of General Ophthalmic Services, for at least six months in 2005 and have maintained their professional registration.

Forms are now available to download from the Department of Health’s website and claims must be made in writing to the appropriate PCT (or where the PCT uses a support agency to the agency) and be made by contractors whether the contractor is claiming for him/herself or for an assistant.

For contractors claiming a payment for themselves the claim should be made to a PCT where they are on the ophthalmic list and with which they undertake the most work (if they are listed with more than one PCT).

The DoH’s details state: ‘When contractors claim for an assistant, the claim should normally be made by and paid to the contractor whom the assistant assists.

‘Where an assistant is employed by two or more contractors, the CET allowance should be claimed by and paid to the contractor, whom the assistant nominates for the purpose of payment of the CET allowance. The contractor shall make the claim to the PCT on whose supplementary list the assistant is entered (which may not be the area where the contractor is him/herself listed).

‘A separate claim shall be made for each person in respect of whom an allowance is payable and only one claim shall be made for each person.’

Department of Health
British Medical Association