How to get legal aid in welfare benefits cases

Mon,16 April 2018
News Benefits

The total number of disabled people granted legal aid in welfare cases has plummeted from 29,801 in 2011-12 to just 308 in 2016-17.

See Disabled people lose legal aid in 99% of benefits disputes

This is because of the 2012 Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act, which removed more than £350m from the legal aid budget and ended the right to legal representation in many benefits cases.

But you can still get legal aid funding in certain circumstances including:

  • advice and assistance for advice on whether or not to submit an application for permission to appeal to the Upper Tribunal (but not First-Tier Tribunal)
  • preparation of an Upper Tribunal case prior to a hearing.
  • Judicial review

The Public Law project has produced a guide on how to get legal aid in welfare benefits cases

How to get legal aid in welfare benefits cases