HGV/PSV over 70 licence renewal

Approximately a year ago I posted that Colin had waited two months for his HGV/PSV driving licence renewal.
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Having received the renewal forms late last week we are travelling down  the annual licence renewal once again.

Today he has been for his eye sight test which he has passed.  But rip off Britain strikes once again. Although he paid for his sight test last year he has had to do so this year because it isn't two years since he had the last sight test. So it transpires because he has to have an annual test for his HGV/PSV licence then he is no longer entitled to free eye sight test.

I am going to write to the powers that be to clarify the situation of course!!

However now waiting to see the outcome of the medical

I will be in this situation later in the year and have been weighing up the options to retain the over 3.5 ton C1 licence class or return the camper to 3.5 ton and do it on line.
the D4 medical form from DVLA is eight pages long and is titled Medical examination report for a group 2 licence.
This is where the DVLA site directs you to when you follow the motorhome over 3.5 ton route.  Another form is needed but this one is not downloadable and is sent out by DVLA 90 days before your licence is due to run out.
It is a real nonsense because we paid for the 4 ton upgrade on the Hobby and it turned up with a 3.5 ton plate I was assured that the Air springs was all that was needed to make it 4 ton and these were fitted.  We subsequently received the 4 ton plate and I sent a scan of this to DVLA and they altered the Registration document.  I swapped the plates over and still have the 3.5 to go back to, but what a way to have to proceed. Surely they know that 70 yrs old is the new 50 yrs old.

Tell the Optician that there is a history of glaucoma in the family, which is true in my case, the eye test is free but it seems that they never do any checks.

laneside wrote:

Tell the Optician that there is a history of glaucoma in the family, which is true in my case, the eye test is free but it seems that they never do any checks.

Did consider that lol

I think you will find that eyesight tests are free for over 60yrs old anyway.
Here is the full list.

• you're aged under 16
  
  
• you're aged 16, 17 or 18 and are in full-time education
  
  
• you're aged 60 or over
  
  
• you're registered as partially sighted (sight impaired) or blind (severely sight impaired)
  
  
• you've been diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma
  
  
• you're 40 or over, and your mother, father, brother, sister, son or daughter has been diagnosed with glaucoma
  
  
• you've been advised by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) that you're at risk of glaucoma
  
  
• you're a prisoner on leave from prison
  
  
• you're eligible for an NHS complex lens voucher – your optometrist (optician) can advise you about your entitlement
  
  
• It is also free if you are in any of these
  
  
• receive Income Support
  
  
• receive Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (not Contribution-based)
  
  
• receive Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
  
  
• receive Income-based Employment and Support Allowance 
  
  
• are awarded Universal Credit
  
  
• are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate
  
  
• you are named on a valid NHS certificate for full help with health costs (HC2)
  
  

I am sure I read somewhere that DVLA pay for the medical report from the doctor but just where I read that I cannot seem to find again.

With regard to how often you can have a free test 
It is recommended that most people should get their eyes tested every two years. However, in some circumstances, they may recommend more frequent NHS sight tests; for example:

• are a child wearing glasses
  
  
• have diabetes
  
  
• are aged 40 or over and have a family history of glaucoma
  
  
• are aged 70 or over
  
  

The 'they' in this clip from the NHS choices website is not very clear but would seem to lay with the opticians opinion as to if he feels that he should see you privately of have the meagre £20 or so that the NHS gives him for the test.  Once you start paying it would seem to be two years from that date before your next free test.  I think the fact that the over 70s are specifically mentioned should have figured in the opticians assessment because it is one of the examples given.  Knock his door again and tell him he should be riding a black horse and wearing a mask if he intends to Rob Pensioners.