Court fee assistance on low income

Hello there. I would be happy to explain this for you.

Yes, in England and Wales, you can absolutely get help with court or tribunal fees if you are on a low income or receive certain benefits. This is run through a government system simply called the Help with Fees scheme.

How the Help with Fees scheme works:

To decide if you are eligible and how much help you can get, the court staff will look at three main things.

First, they will look at your savings and investments. To get help, your savings need to be below a certain limit. This limit mostly depends on your age and how much your court fee actually is. For most smaller fees, your savings need to be under a few thousand pounds.

Second, they will check if you receive certain benefits. If you have low savings and you receive means-tested benefits, like Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or Pension Guarantee Credit, you will usually qualify to have the whole fee waived.

Third, if you are not on those specific benefits, they will look at your overall monthly income before tax. The income limit depends on whether you are single or live with a partner, and how many children you support. If your income is below the threshold, you will not have to pay anything. If it is just over the threshold, you might get a partial discount, meaning you only have to pay a portion of the fee.

Practical next steps:

1. Look up the government guidance. The easiest way to start is to search online for "Help with court fees". The official government website has a simple guide that reflects the most recent threshold changes.

2. Gather your details. You will need your National Insurance number, details of your monthly household income, exactly how much you have in savings, and the exact name or number of the court form you want to submit.

3. Make your application. It is usually quickest to apply online for Help with Fees. If you prefer paper, you can download or pick up a form called the EX160 to fill in by hand.

4. Get your reference number. If you apply online, it will instantly generate a Help with Fees reference number for you. Keep this safe.

5. Submit everything to the court. Write your Help with Fees reference number in the specific box provided on your main court application. Then send the court application in as normal. Do not send your court form without this number, or the court staff will assume you have just forgotten to pay and will return your papers.

I hope this makes the process feel a little less daunting. Please let me know if you would like me to explain any other part of the process.