Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Legal aid financial eligibility thresholds lack routine review and remain stagnant since 2009
Recommendation
Through LASPO MoJ aimed to target legal aid at those who need it most. Aside from scope changes, MoJ can use its financial eligibility criteria to achieve this goal. LAA assesses people’s financial eligibility for legal aid using a means test based on disposable income and capital. LASPO reforms made some changes to financial eligibility criteria, but did not fundamentally change existing thresholds. Neither did they create a mechanism to review financial eligibility thresholds routinely. Since 2009, anyone earning over £31,884 has not been eligible for legal aid for civil cases, unless they are in receipt of certain benefits.40
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 11 July 2025. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document ↗