Six million more people on low incomes will be able to get free legal help through a planned expansion to the legal aid scheme costing an extra £25m a year.
The new measures are expected to come into force over the next two years and will see the income thresholds to qualify for free magistrates' court representation and civil legal aid rise. Free legal representation will also be available to everyone in crown courts, regardless of their income.
The plans will mean that domestic abuse victims on Universal Credit and who are seeking a protection order from their abusive partners will also be able to get funding more easily and those who share a house with their abuser will also benefit from changes that mean cash held in assets like joint bank accounts will no longer be considered when assessing someone's financial eligibility for aid. The changes also mean that coercive control victims will be able to get legal help without needing to access funds from their joint assets.
