Detailed guidance is given in a leaflet 'A Practical Guide to Community Legal Service Funding' found on the Legal Aid Information Leaflets page of the Legal Services Commission web site (opens in new window)..

You do not need to apply for public funding yourself: we do this for you. However this means that we may have to ask you for a lot of documents.

To prevent any delay in our taking any action on your behalf it is important that you bring ALL documentation that is relevant to your financial situation referred to below to your initial appointment. Your failure to do so will result in our being unable to fully assess your entitlement to Public Funding and our being unable to open a file on your behalf.

Please read through the questions below to see what documentation you will need to bring.

Documents required to assess your eligibility for public funding (Legal Aid)

1. ARE YOU IN RECEIPT OF INCOME SUPPORT, STATE PENSION GUARANTEE CREDIT, INCOME-BASED JOBSEEKERS ALLOWANCE, INCOME-BASED EMPLOYMENT & SUPPORT ALLOWANCE OR WORKING TAX CREDIT (BUT NOT CHILD TAX CREDIT)?

   A   I receive Income Support or State Pension Guarantee Credit

   Please provide:

   • The last Bank/Building Society/Post Office account statement(s) clearly showing the payments received

   OR

   • A letter from the Jobcentre dated within the last 4 weeks

   AND IGNORE THE REST OF THIS DOCUMENT

   B   I receive Income-Based Jobseekers Allowance or Income-Based Employment & Support Allowance

   Please provide:

   • A letter from the Jobcentre dated within the last 4 weeks clearly stating that the benefit received is INCOME-BASED

   AND IGNORE THE REST OF THIS DOCUMENT

   C   I do NOT receive Income Support, State Pension Guarantee Credit, Income-Based Jobseekers Allowance OR Income-Based Employment & Support Allowance

      

2. DO YOU RECEIVE WORKING TAX CREDIT BUT NOT CHILD TAX CREDIT?

   A   I receive Working Tax Credit but NOT Child Tax Credit

   Please provide

   • A letter from HMRC relating to the current tax year AND IGNORE THE REST OF THIS DOCUMENT

   B   I receive Working Tax Credit AND Child Tax Credit

      

3. ARE YOU EMPLOYED OR SELF-EMPLOYED?

   A   I am employed

   Please provide:

   • The last wage slip(s) received from EACH of your employers

   AND go onto section 4

   B   I am self-employed

   Please provide:

   • The most recent Self-Assessment Tax Return AND
   • The most recent HMRC Self-Assessment Tax Calculation AND
   • Current proof of income

      

4. DO YOU RECEIVE INCOME FROM ANY OF THE FOLLOWING?

   • CHILD TAX CREDIT
   • WORKING TAX CREDIT
   • STATE PENSION
   • PRIVATE PENSION
   • OCCUPATIONAL PENSION
   • CHILD BENEFIT
   • HOUSING BENEFIT
   • COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT
   • HOUSEKEEPING FROM LODGER(S), NON-DEPENDENT CHILDREN OR RELATIVES
   • RENT FROM TENANT(S)
   • CHILD MAINTENANCE (WHETHER FROM YOUR EX-SPOUSE/PARTNER DIRECTLY OR VIA THE CSA)
   • SPOUSAL MAINTENANCE
   • STOCKS
   • SHARES
   • BONDS
   • SELLING ITEMS ON EBAY OR BY OTHER MEANS

   A   I do NOT receive ANY of these incomes

   Go onto section 5

   B   I receive one or more of these incomes

   Please provide:

   • the last Bank/Building Society/Post Office account statement(s) clearly showing all Benefits AND other income received OR
   • A letter(s) from the Jobcentre/DWP dated within the last 4 weeks in respect of EACH Benefit AND
   • The most recent official documentation relating to each other income received

      

5. DO YOU PAY ANY OF THE FOLLOWING OUTGOINGS?

   • MORTGAGE
   • RENT
   • CHILD MAINTENANCE
   • CHILDCARE COSTS
   • PAYMENT(S) UNDER A COURT ORDER

   If so, please provide:

   • The last Bank/Building Society/Post Office account statement(s) clearly showing all payments made OR
   • The most recent official documentation relating to each Outgoing paid

      

6. DO YOU LIVE WITH A PARTNER (OTHER THAN THE OTHER PARTY TO THE DISPUTE)?

   A   I do not live with a partner

   IGNORE THE REST OF THIS DOCUMENT

   B    I live with a partner

   Their financial circumstances must be taken into consideration

   Please have your partner carefully consider this document and provide the necessary documentation

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