What if your circumstances change?

If your circumstances change this might affect your eligibility.

Civil legal aid

For civil legal aid, we need to know about your income for 12 months from the date of your application and we need to know about capital for as long as the case lasts.

If your income changes after the 12 months has passed and you are having difficulty paying your monthly instalments you should contact our Collections Team on 0131 560 2117.

Here are some common things you need to tell us about:

  • If you change benefits or your wages go up or down.
  • If you marry or divorce or have a partner or separate.
  • If you, your spouse or partner buy or sell a property or plan to do so.
  • If you get money, for example, from an inheritance or a win.

For example, you need to tell us if you move house, start to live with a partner, have changes in your benefits and/or employment or get an inheritance.

We will decide if the change affects your eligibility.

The best way to do this is to telephone our Financial Assessment Unit on 0131 560 2164.

Alternatively, you can email or write to us. Please include your legal aid reference number when you contact us.

Criminal legal aid

If your circumstances change during the course of your case this might affect your eligibility to continue to receive criminal legal aid.

If legal aid has been granted to you, you need to tell us of any changes in your financial circumstances during the course of the case.

You need to tell us if your benefits or wages go up by the equivalent of more than £750 per year, or if your capital increases by more than £750.

We will then decide if the change affects your eligibility to continue to receive criminal legal aid.

Children's Legal Aid

If your circumstances change during the course of your case this might affect your eligibility to continue to receive children's legal aid.

If legal aid has been granted to you, you need to tell us of any changes in your financial circumstances during the course of the case.

  • If your income increases by £750 per year or more, or decreases by £300 per year, during the course of the case or
  • If your capital increases by £750 or more, during the course of the case.

We will then decide if the change affects your eligibility to continue to receive children's legal aid.