The Legal Help Means Test
This is a one off means test based on your means at the first interview. Provided your savings are no more than £8,000, you will qualify if you receive :
- Income Support
- Income based Job Seekers Allowance
- Disposable income not exceeding £672 per month
"Disposable income" is a legal term in itself. The calculation (which is now the same for full Legal Aid but the limits are different) is as follows.
- Gross income, including any disregarded benefits, must not exceed £2,435 per month
- Calculate gross income by adding client and partner's earnings and income from any source
- Deduct Tax and National Insurance
- Deduct allowances for partner (£146.62), dependent children (£206.75)
- Deduct actual maintenance or child support
- Deduct employment expenses (fixed £45 for PAYE employees only)
- Deduct child minding costs
- Deduct housing costs (rent or mortgage plus endowment premium, limit for single person £545)
- Deduct disregarded benefits (DLA and certain disability or similar benefits)