Legal aid

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Financial eligibility

To get legal aid, you’ll usually need to show that both:

  • your income is below a certain amount
  • the value of your savings, investments and property are below a certain amount

You can be eligible for legal aid whatever your financial circumstances if your case is:

  • heard by a mental health tribunal
  • about child abduction
  • about children in care

There are different financial rules if you’ve been charged with a crime. Find out how to apply.

Your income

You’ll usually need to show that you and your partner either:

  • have a joint monthly income of £2,657 or less (before tax and other deductions)

  • get a qualifying benefit

Qualifying benefits are:

  • Universal Credit 

  • the ‘Guarantee Credit’ element of Pension Credit

  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

  • Income Support

You might still be eligible if you have a higher income and your case is about:

  • domestic abuse or violence 
  • forced marriage

If you’re not sure if you’re eligible, you should still apply. Your eligibility will be checked as part of your application.

Your savings, investments and property

You will not usually be eligible if you and your partner have assets of over £8,000. Assets are:

  • savings and investments 

  • any equity in your home over £100,000 (equity is the current value of your home minus the amount of mortgage you owe) 

You might still be eligible if you have assets worth more than £8,000 if:

  • you’re over State Pension age 
  • you’re disputing ownership of your home
  • your case is about domestic abuse or violence 
  • your case is about forced marriage

If you’re not sure if you’re eligible, you should still apply. Your eligibility will be checked as part of your application.

When you might have to contribute some of the costs of your case

Legal aid might not cover all the costs of your case. You may have to:

  • pay some of the costs upfront
  • pay back some of the cost if you win money or property from your case

If you win money or property

The Legal Aid Agency will make a charge or claim on any money or property you win to pay back the cost of legal aid. This is known as the ‘statutory charge’.

If the charge is on your home, you can pay it back in a similar way to a mortgage. Your legal adviser will explain how this works. 

Contact the Legal Aid Agency’s Secured Debt Team to discuss how to pay.

Secured Debt Team
secureddebtteam@justice.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 200 2020
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

View a printable version of the whole guide

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