Education and Child Matters

I AM L.I.P

I am a Litigant In Person

Form EX160 (On Or After 27-11-23)

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

If you need version 1 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 BEFORE THE DATE 27-11-2023. ALSO FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF FEES ALREADY PAID BEFORE THE DATE 27-11-2023. 

  • 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.

This writeup on this webpage is for version 2.

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. Please click the link below.

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. 
  • NOTE 4 – Please send your completed EX160 form to the court that is dealing with your case or application.  
  • Form EX160 is 8 pages long.
  • Page 1 gives you an explanation that before starting to complete your form EX160 you will need your National Insurance Number or Home Office Reference Number, your court form number for which you are applying for help with the fees and your case/claim number if you have one. You will also need to have ready details of your savings, income and investments. If you have a partner then you will also need their National Insurance Number, their date of birth and details of their income, savings and investments.
  • Part 1 on page 2 of the form will ask for your personal details – full name, address, email address, date of birth and national insurance number/home office reference number. 
  • Part 2 on page 3 will ask your marital status whether you are single, married or living with someone and sharing an income. Please tick the relevant box and read the explanation of what is classified as single or married or living with someone with regards to this form. If you have ticked the single box then please go to part 4. If you have ticked the married or living with someone box then complete part 3.
  • Part 3 on page 3 will ask for your partner’s full name, date of birth and National Insurance Number.
  • Part 4 on page 3 will ask you if you have already paid the court or tribunal application fee and if so the date when the fee was paid. You can apply for a reimbursement for a fee paid in the previous 3 months. You will need to attach proof that you have paid this fee. 
  • Part 5 on page 4 will ask about the court application form you are asking help with. You need to write the number of the court application form in the box and the name of the form. If you do not know the form then you are required to describe the fee you are applying for help with.
  • Part 6 on page 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 7 on page 4 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 8 on page 4 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 3 boxes and you will need to tick the relevant one to you – whether you have less than £4250.00 in savings and investments, between £4250.00 and £15,999.00 in savings and investments or £16,000.00 and above in savings and investments. 
  • Part 9 on page 4 will ask whether you or your partner are 66 years of age or over and how much savings and investments do you and your partner (if you have one) have. 
  • Part 10 on page 5 will ask if you receive any of the listed benefits – income based jobseekers allowance, income based employment and support allowance, income support, universal credit or pension credit.  If you tick the ‘YES’ box you can skip parts 11, 12 and 13. 
  • Part 11 will ask whether you or your partner have any children living with you or you are supporting financially and if so how many aged 0-13 years or 14 years or older. A child is a person aged 16 or under or aged 19 and under if in full time education. 
  • Part 12 on page 6 will ask what types of income have you and/or your partners had in the last one month or average of 3 months. You are provided with a list and you must tick all the relevant boxes.
    • You must NOT include the following benefits – carers allowance, PIP, housing benefit or childcare element of working tax credit.
    • If you have ticked the ‘YES’ box for child benefit or child tax credit or income maintenance payments then you must attach proof to your form EX160.
  • Part 13 on page 6 will ask you the figure in pounds for yours and/or your partners if you have one income for the last month or average of the last 3 months. This figure must be before National Insurance and tax are taken off.
  • Part 14 on page 7 will ask you to sign and date a declaration and statement of truth. You must tick the relevant box to declare whether you are the applicant, litigation friend or legal representative. 
  • Part 15 on page 8 asks for the name, address, email address and position of the litigation friend or legal representative if they are completing this form.  
  • 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. Please send your Ex160 form to the court within 28 days of signing it. You can post your form to the court or send it via email. 

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 25-10-2024.