The Government has upped the threshold at which people can get financial help with tribunal and court fees via the ‘Help with Fees’ scheme.
The scheme aims to help the most vulnerable in society access justice by providing those on low income and little to no savings with financial help towards the cost of court fees.
The income and capital eligibility thresholds for Help with Fees are being raised significantly. The Government said the move will potentially support thousands more people and ensure that “justice is never unaffordable”.
The scheme is also being simplified making it easier for people to use, including allowing their legal representatives to complete applications.
In the past year alone, the scheme has provided more than £80m to thousands of people in a wide range of cases such as family disputes, housing issues and compensation claims for personal injuries.
Mike Freer, justice minister, said: “No matter what someone’s finances, it is vital they can get the justice they deserve which is why we are making it easier for more people to get help with court fees.
“The Help with Fees scheme has already helped tens of thousands of people pay court fees since we created it in 2013 and our reforms will make it more generous for those who need it most.”
The changes to income thresholds will vary depending on different families and their circumstances, including the age of any children. For example:
- For a couple with two children under 14, the monthly income threshold would increase from £1,875 per month to £2,980
- For a single person with no children the threshold would increase from £1,170 per month to £1,420
Additional financial support will be provided for parents with a child aged 14 or over, considering the greater cost associated with looking after older children.
Supporting the most vulnerable
The Government will also change how the scheme is targeted to make sure the most financially vulnerable are better supported by providing more flexibility for people with money in savings and investments by increasing the minimum capital threshold for the scheme. This will allow applicants to have more capital before they become ineligible for financial help.
The changes will also make it easier for the self-employed and those who work variable shift patterns to qualify by better recognising that income can fluctuate month-on-month.
The Help with Fees age cap will also be raised from 61 to the state pension age of 66.
The reforms follow a public consultation earlier this year which found the majority of respondents were “very supportive” of the government’s plans to expand and improve the scheme. The reformed Help with Fees scheme will come into force later this year.
