Eligible For VAT Refund?
What is the VAT Relief Scheme?
The government has a scheme called the VAT Relief Scheme to help those who are terminally ill, chronically sick or disabled to claim back the VAT they have paid on shoes in extra wide fittings.
The scheme does not cover all wide shoes, only the widest widths; 6V, 6E and 8E width fittings.
To reclaim VAT under this scheme, the footwear purchased needs to be in the extra wide fittings - 6V, 6E or 8E and you need to be terminally ill, chronically sick or disabled
Do I Qualify For the Scheme?
To qualify you need to be terminally ill, chronically sick or disabled.
The VAT office defines a person is ‘chronically sick' or disabled if he, she, they are a person:
- with a physical or mental impairment that has a long-term effect on your ability to carry out everyday activities
- with a medical condition that doctors treat as a chronic sickness (like diabetes for example)
It does not include an elderly person who is not disabled or chronically sick.
Nor does it include aperson who is only temporarily disabled or incapacitated, such as with a broken limb.
It also doesn't cover those with extremely wide feet who has no medical conditions or physical impairments.
What Medical Conditions are Covered By The Scheme?
Here is the list of eligible medical conditions. If you are still unsure you should seek guidance from your GP or other medical professional.
- Alzheimers
- Amputee
- Angina
- Ankylosing Spondylitus
- Arthritis
- Ataxia
- Bronchiectasis
- Cancer
- Cerebellum Ataxia
- Cerebral Palsy
- Cerebral Vasculitis
- Chronic Arthritis
- Degenerative Spine
- Dementia
- Diabetes
- Diverticulitis
- Emphysema
- Epilepsy
- Fibromyalgia
- Functional Movement Disorder
- Heart Disease
- Hypertension
- Kidney Disease
- Lymphedema
- Motor Neuron Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Myelitis
- Oedema
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Parkinson’s
- Peripheral Vascular Disease
- Pneumonia
- Polymyositis
- Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Physically Disabled
- Respiratory Failure
- Rheumatism
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Scoliosis
- Spina Bifida
- Spondylitis
- Stenosis
- Stroke
- Terminally Ill
What Shoes are Covered By The VAT Relief Scheme?
VAT relief is only available on our widest fittings. The width fittings covered by the scheme are 6E, 6V and 8E.
The scheme does not cover any other width fttings, even if you qualify as ‘chronically sick or disabled'
Click here to view our range of shoes covered by the VAT Relief Scheme.
How Do I Reclaim My VAT?
Firstly, double check that you meet the criteria for 'chronically sick or disabled' (see above) and that the shoes you have purchased are a 6E, 6V or 8E width fitting.
Then print our VAT Relief Claim form and complete it.
Medical cerificates or documentation is not requred, as the scheme is self-declared.
You can return the form via post or, if you have the ability to scan documents, then you could scan the completed document and email it back to us.
Once received we can refund the VAT you have paid on your order back to the payment card used for the original purchase.
Please allow 3-5 days for the refund to be processed.
Print A VAT Relief Form
