Debt and Welfare Benefits
From 1st April 2013 Legal Aid is no longer available for Debt Problems or Benefits Problems (except for a few cases involving the Upper Tribunal).
This is a decision taken by the Government. As a result we regret that we are no longer able to take on debt or benefits cases.
You may be able to get help from your local CAB. You may want to take your problem to your MP, as these changes which prevent us from helping you are a direct result of Government policy.
Housing Cases
Legal Aid for housing cases has been cut back. We can no longer help with many problems faced by tenants, for example the failure to return deposits or disputes over rent which fall short of court proceedings. However, we can still help with the following:
- Court proceedings for possession of your home
- Homelessness Appeals
- Judicial Review proceedings to challenge the decision of a public body
- Cases where your house is in such a bad state of repair that your health and/or safety is at risk
If you contact us we will be able to tell you whether or not we can help you. You will be asked to give us details of your case and your income, as all legal aid is means tested. We will consider your case and let you know within 48 hours whether we can help. In urgent cases we will make an immediate assessment.
Gypsy and Traveller cases
We can still help with the following:
- Evictions from unauthorised encampments
- Evictions from rented sites
- Planning cases involving court action e.g. appeals, injunctions, etc
- Homelessness reviews and appeals
- Judicial Review proceedings to challenge the decision of a public body
- Possibly in disrepair cases where the disrepair is so bad that your health and/or safety is at risk.
You should contact us on our Travellers Advice Line on 0121 685 8677. You will be asked to give us details of your case and your income, as all legal aid is means tested. We will take urgent action if necessary.
Public Law
Legal Aid is still available to challenge the decisions of public bodies, including local authorities. The rules relating to who qualifies financially have been made harsher.