Education and Child Matters

I AM L.I.P

I am a Litigant In Person

Form EX160 (Before 27-11-23)

Apply For Help With Court Or Tribunal Form Fees For All
Applications Made Before 27-11-2023. This Form Can Also Be Used For Reimbursement Of Fees Already Paid Before 27-11-2023

 

WHAT IS FORM EX160 USED FOR?

Form EX160 is used to apply for help with court form fees if you are on a low income or on certain benefits. Help with court form fees is also known as fee remission.

There are 2 versions of form EX160 –  

  • Version 1 is for help with fees for all applications made BEFORE the date 27-11-2023. This form can also be used to apply for reimbursement for fees already paid BEFORE the date 27-11-2023. 

This write up on this webpage is about version 1. 

  • Version 2 is for help with fees for all applications made ON OR AFTER the date 27-11-2023. This form can also be used for reimbursement of fees already paid ON OR AFTER the date 27-11-2023.

If you need version 2 of this form, please click the link below.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR FORM EX160 USED FOR HELP WITH FEES FOR ALL APPLICATIONS MADE ON OR AFTER THE DATE 27-11-2023. ALSO FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF FEES ALREADY PAID ON OR AFTER THE DATE 27-11-2023. 

Please note you can ONLY apply for reimbursement of fees paid for court forms paid within the previous 3 months. 

ARE THERE ANY GOVERNMENT OR OUR OWN L.I.P HELP GUIDES OR WRITE UPS TO HELP YOU COMPLETE FORM EX160?

The government website has EX160A guidance notes to help you complete form EX160.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE NOTES EX160A 

The government website also has a fee remissions contribution calculator which you can use to find out how much of your fees you can get help with. Please click the link below.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT FEE REMISSIONS CONTRIBUTION CALCULATOR

WHAT IS THE FEE TO SEND FORM EX160 TO THE COURT AND HOW TO PAY FOR IT?

There is no fee to send this form to the court.

HOW TO COMPLETE FORM EX160 AND WHERE TO SEND IT.

  • There are 2 ways to apply for ‘help with fees’ – 
    • ONLINE – You can complete and submit form EX160 online. If successful you will receive a ‘help with fees’ reference number starting with HWF. One you have this HWF reference number you can write it in the ‘help with fees’ box on the court form you are asking help with if you are posting a hardcopy of the court form or put the reference number into the box when required if you are completing your court form online. 
    • POSTING A HARDCOPY – You can download a hard copy of form EX160 from the government website. You will need to attach proof of your benefits, your income, and/or 3 months bank statements. You can send your completed form EX160 with all attachments to the court along with the court form you are asking ‘help with fees’. 
  • You can either get help with the court form fees in full, in part, or no help.
  • Your eligibility to apply for help with court form fees will depend upon your savings, income, and type of benefits you are on.
  • To be eligible for help, you must have no more than £3000.00 in savings or investments if you are under the age of 61 years. If you are over 61 years of age, you must not have more than £16,000.00 in savings. The latter amount also applies if the fee for the form you are sending in is between £1000.00 and £10,000.00.
  • To be eligible for help, you must be claiming the following benefits – 
      • Pension credit (guarantee credit).
      • Income support.
      • Income-based Jobseeker’s allowance (JSA).
      • Income-related employment and support allowance (ESA).
      • Universal credit (and you earn less than £6,000 a year).
  • To be eligible for help with fees, you need to be earning £1170.00 or less a month before tax or £1345.00 or less a month before tax if you have a partner. For every child you have, you can add £265.00 in earned income. For example, if you are single with one child, your earned income can be £1435.00 or less to be eligible for help.
  • If you have already paid the form fee and are applying for a refund, you must do this within 3 months and complete section 6 of form EX160. You must complete section 7 – 12 and attach proof of original payment.
  • Once you submit form EX160, the court will write to you if you are unsuccessful. You can appeal to the court delivery manager within 14 days and they will reply to you within 10 days. If you are still not happy, then you can apply to the court’s operations manager and they will make a final decision. If you do not qualify for help with court form fees and you feel you will experience exceptional hardship if you are made to pay the fee, you can ask the delivery manager of the court for help and they will consider your request. However, there are certain criteria they will need to consider and you will need to provide evidence of your hardship. If the delivery manager refuses your request, you can ask the operations manager of the court for help.
  • If you need an emergency decision about help with court fees, for example, in the case of an injunction, the delivery manager will speed up the process for you.
  • Please note with certain court forms such as form D8 if you are making a joint application and using only 1 form D8 between you and your ex-partner and you both want help with paying the fee, you both must apply individually for help using form EX160. If your ex-partner is not eligible to apply or does not apply you will have to pay the full fee. 

SENDING IN YOUR FORM EX160 BY POST, ALONG WITH THE COURT FORM YOU ARE ASKING FOR HELP WITH THE FEES – 

  • NOTE 1 – Please keep a copy of your form EX160 for yourself outside of the copy you send to the court.
  • NOTE 2 – You can complete form EX160 online and print a hard copy. Alternatively you can print the form and complete it with black pen.
  • NOTE 3 – You only need to send 1 copy to the court by post or email.   
  • Form EX160 is 5 pages long.
  • Part 1 on the form will ask for your personal details – title, full name, date of birth and national insurance number/home office reference number. 
  • Part 2 will ask your marital status whether you are single, married or living with someone and sharing an income. Please tick the relevant box.
  • Part 3 will ask about the court form you are asking help with. You need to write the number of the court form in the box and describe it.
  • Part 4 will ask if you have a case, claim or a ‘notice to pay’ number. You must write it in the box if you have one.
  • Part 5 will ask if you are paying for a probate case (about the assets and finances of a person who has died). Please complete as required. 
  • Part 6 is asking if you have already paid the court fee. If you have then you will be asked when you paid the fee. You can apply for a refund within 3 months of paying the fee. You will need to attach proof that you paid this fee to this form EX160.
  • Part 7 will ask you how much do you have in savings and investments. If you have a partner you must include the amount of savings and investments they have also. There are 2 boxes and you will need to tick the relevant one to you – whether you have less or more than £3000.00 in savings and investments.
  • Part 8 will only need to be completed if you have more than £3000.00 in savings. Part 8 will ask are you or your partner aged 61 or over.
    • If you tick the ‘NO’ box you will be asked how much you and/or your partner if you have one have in savings and investments. You will need to write the amount in the box provided. 
    • If you tick the ‘YES’ box you will be asked whether you and/or your partner if you have one have less than £16,000.00 or more in savings and investments.
  • Part 9 will ask if you receive any of the listed benefits – income based jobseekers, income based employment and support allowance, income support, universal credit or pension credit.  If you tick the ‘YES’ box you can skip parts 10, 11 and 12. 
  • Part 10 will ask whether you or your partner have any children living with you and if so how many. A child is a person aged 16 or under or aged 19 and under if in full time education.
  • Part 11 will ask you whether you or your partner have any other children that you support financially through maintenance payments.
  • Part 12 will ask what was yours and/or your partners if you have one last months income before tax and national insurance.
    • You must NOT include the following benefits – carers allowance, housing benefit or childcare element of working tax credit.
    • If you have ticked the ‘YES’ box in parts 10 and 11 of this form, you must include any child benefit or child tax credit or income maintenance payments for any of these children.
  • The next box will ask you to explain if you have shown that you have no income in part 12, then how do you support yourself.
  • Part 13 will ask you to write down your contact details.
  • Part 14 will ask you to sign a declaration and statement of truth.
  • You will need to attach proof of yours and/or your partners income. You can send copies. This can be 3 months current account bank statements into which your benefits or wages are paid, wage slip/tax return if applicable or a benefits letter.

  • As stated previously you can send form EX160 along with the court form you are applying for help with. If you are sending your form EX160 separately, then please send it to the same court you sent the form to that you are asking for help with.

SENDING IN YOUR FORM EX160 ONLINE – 

Please note that the screen/page you will be directed to during this EX160 application will depend upon your answers. Below, I am summarising what you will be asked but it may not be in the order I have set out because of your answers. 

  • When completing form Ex160 online –
  • On the first screen, you will be asked to input the number or detail of the form you are asking for help with fees. Or you can tick the box which says, ‘I don’t have a form’, if all you need is a ‘help with fees’ reference number.
  • The next screen, will ask if you have already paid the fee of the court form and are asking for a refund. If you have paid the fee you will be asked for the date the fee was paid. You can apply for a refund for a court form fee within 3 months from when you paid it.
  • Next, you will be asked for your national insurance number. If you do not have one, then you will be asked for your home office reference number. If you don’t have a national insurance number or a home office reference number, you cannot apply online and will be asked to submit a completed hard copy of form EX160 by post. If you have your national insurance number you must write your national insurance number in the box.
  • You will then be asked if you are single, married, or living with someone and sharing an income.
  • You will then be asked how much savings you have and which benefits you are claiming. If you ticked the box which said you were married or are living with someone, then you will need to include/add their savings, income, and benefits as well as your own. Please answer accordingly. 
  • Now you will be asked if you have any children living with you and if they are financially dependent on you. If you do you must put the number of children in the box provided. 
  • You will be asked about your income, certain benefits, and how much you get every month. You will need to select the relevant box.
  • You will be asked if you are paying for a probate case. This concerns the assets and finances of someone who has died. If you are then you will be asked the name of the deceased and the date of death.
  • The next screen will ask if you have a case, claim, appeal, or ‘notice to pay’ number.
  • You will now be asked for your date of birth, full name, postal address, and email address.
  • Before you submit your form, you will be asked to check your details.
  • You will now get a ‘help with fees’ reference number starting with HWF.
  • You must put this ‘help with fees’ reference number on any court form you are asking for help with and send it in to be assessed. The court will let you know if you are successful.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND FORM EX160/DOWNLOAD THIS FORM?

Please click on the link below to download a paper copy of form EX160 from the government website. As said above, please complete and send by post (signed for recorded delivery) to the court along with the court form you are asking for help with. You can also complete and send online.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR FORM EX160 

WHEN WAS FORM EX160 FIRST PUBLISHED AND LAST UPDATED?

Form EX160 was first published by the government (HM Courts & Tribunals Service) on 22-03-2016 and it was last updated on 04-03-2024.