https://www.slab.org.uk/guidance/cases-where-no-documentary-evidence-of-eligibility-is-immediately-available/
In some cases it may be hard to obtain documentary evidence to verify your client’s income. For example, your client may have had to flee the family home because of domestic violence or be in hospital having just given birth. You should explain this on the application for advice and assistance/ABWOR or for an increase.
It may also be difficult to get documentary evidence your client if they have:
However, even in these cases, you should try to get evidence and if you cannot, clearly explain to us why you have granted advice and assistance/ABWOR.
You should always continue, as the case progresses, to try to get this. With each application for an increase you should explain why it is not reasonably possible to obtain documentary evidence of financial eligibility.
We will honour the increases granted if:
However, we will seek repayment from your client and they should be told this.
For the period of the Covid-19 restrictions, solicitors must still be satisfied that the client is financially eligible, and you should record in a file note that you have discussed the eligibility tests for A&A with your clients and how you satisfied yourself that the clients are eligible. Relying on the information provided verbally by the client is acceptable.
When completing online applications, in the sections where you are asked if you have seen “the most recent evidence of the applicant’s capital and income”, you should:
Verification of financial eligibility for children’s advice and assistance and ABWOR
Read about why you should verify your client’s capital, even if they receive a passported benefit, as well as the types of documentary evidence required.
Verification of financial eligibility for children’s advice and assistance and ABWOR
This page covers how you should go about verifying that your client is eligible to receive children’s A&A or ABWOR based on the income they receive. It covers the kind of evidence you should see from employed clients; self-employed clients; and clients in receipt of benefits. It also sets out what you should do in cases where your client declared they have no source of income.