Thousands more individuals will now have access to financial assistance with court and tribunal fees, as the Ministry of Justice and Mike Freer MP have announced an expansion of the ‘Help with Fees’ scheme. This intervention aims to provide support to the most vulnerable members of society and ensure that justice is accessible for all, particularly in light of the increasing cost of living.
The ‘Help with Fees’ scheme plays a crucial role in safeguarding universal access to justice by offering financial aid to individuals with low income and minimal savings, to help cover the expenses associated with legal proceedings. Recognising the importance of this support, the income and capital eligibility thresholds have been significantly raised, potentially benefiting thousands more people and ensuring that justice is never unaffordable.
One of the notable changes is the simplification of the scheme, making it more user-friendly. Applicants can now authorise their legal representatives to complete the application process on their behalf, streamlining the procedure. In the previous year alone, the scheme disbursed over £80 million to numerous individuals involved in various cases, ranging from family disputes and housing issues to compensation claims for personal injuries.
Justice Minister Mike Freer emphasised the significance of ensuring that individuals, regardless of their financial circumstances, have access to the justice they deserve. The Help with Fees scheme has already assisted tens of thousands of people in paying court fees since its establishment in 2013, and the recent reforms aim to make it even more generous for those in greatest need.
The changes to income thresholds vary based on different family situations and circumstances, taking into account the age of any children. For instance, a couple with two children under the age of 14 will see their monthly income threshold increase from £1,875 to £2,980, while a single person with no children will experience an increase from £1,170 per month to £1,420. Furthermore, additional financial support will be provided to parents with a child aged 14 or older, acknowledging the higher costs associated with caring for older children.
In addition to the changes in income thresholds, the Government has implemented further measures to better support the most financially vulnerable, including increasing the minimum capital threshold for the scheme. This will allow individuals with savings and investments to possess more capital before becoming ineligible for financial assistance. The reforms also take into account the fluctuating income of the self-employed and those with variable shift patterns, ensuring that their eligibility for the scheme is better aligned with their income fluctuations. Moreover, partial fee discounts have been revised to require individuals with higher incomes to contribute more towards their court and tribunal fees. Lastly, the age cap for eligibility has been raised from 61 to the state pension age of 66.
These reforms stem from a public consultation conducted earlier this year, which received overwhelming support for the Government’s plans to expand and enhance the ‘Help with Fees’ scheme. The reformed scheme is set to take effect later this year.
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