Update to the Fee Remission Process

Update to the Fee Remissions Process – message from the HMCTS Reform Programme Team

HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has made some changes and developed a simpler and faster fee remission process – a process that helps the public with their court, tribunal or probate fees, if they are on benefits or have a low income.

From 28 October 2015, the fees remission process will be called “Help with Fees” and a new and improved Help with Fees form, called the EX160, will be available online from .Gov.uk as well as in courts. The new form was developed in partnership with, and tested extensively, with users to make sure customers have a better experience.

Applicants will now be asked to make a self-assessment of their eligibility for help with fees, and there will no longer be a requirement for every applicant to submit paperwork (such as bank statements and payslips) to support their request for help with fees. HMCTS will check directly with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) whether an applicant is on the qualifying benefits, and will check whether an applicant’s income makes them eligible for help with their fees.

However, some customers may still be asked to supply paperwork as part of their application process, and so applicants should continue keep records of their pay and benefits documents, as they may be required by HMCTS as part of the application process.

There will be updates with further developments however, if you have any questions on the help with fees process you can email the help with fees mailbox at helpwithfees.feedback@digital.justice.gov.uk

Note: The new paper form and guidance will still be referred to as the EX160 and EX160a. The process will be called ‘Help with Fees’. The links on form finder will remain unchanged, but will now point to the new form and guidance after 28 October 2015.

http://hmctsformfinder.justice.gov.uk/courtfinder/forms/ex160-eng.pdf

http://hmctsformfinder.justice.gov.uk/courtfinder/forms/ex160a-eng.pdf