Cannot afford the court fee?

Court fee remission (Help with Fees) can reduce or cover your small claims court fee. Who qualifies, the savings and income tests, and how to apply on EX160.

How fee remission works

Court fee remission, which HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) calls Help with Fees, can reduce or cover a court fee if your savings are below the limit and your income is low or you receive a qualifying benefit. You apply online or on form EX160, usually at the same time as the application the fee is for. For the fees themselves, see our small claims court fees guide.

The scheme has savings and income tests. Qualifying benefits can satisfy the income test, but the savings test still applies. If you do not qualify under the normal rules and would face exceptional hardship, you can ask HMCTS to consider its exceptional remission power.

1. Savings test (capital)

Under the normal scheme, your relevant savings must be below the limit. The table applies if you and your partner are both under 66.

If you or your partner are 66 or over, the savings limit is £16,000 regardless of the fee: you must have less than this amount. Normally combine your savings and your partner’s. Check the exclusions in EX160A. Figures checked on 19 September 2026.

Pass the savings test, then check the income HMCTS counts, including gross wages before tax. Some benefits and benefit elements are excluded, including PIP, Disability Living Allowance, Housing Benefit and the housing element of Universal Credit. Check the full EX160A list rather than counting all benefits. For each child, add £425 to the income threshold if they are 13 or under, or £710 if they are 14 or over. The same additions apply to the partial remission ceiling.

Thresholds are checked against HMCTS guidance on 19 September 2026. Eligibility for partial help depends on the fee and your circumstances; HMCTS confirms the contribution. Verify the current figures before applying.