Help with Fees Online: How to Apply for Court Fee Remission in 2026

Court fees in England and Wales are a significant barrier to justice. Filing a money claim can cost anywhere from £35 to over £1,000 depending on the amount. An application notice costs £126, or £321 if it needs a hearing. Enforcement fees add more on top. For people on low incomes or benefits, these fees can make it impossible to access the courts — and the system knows it.

That is why the Help with Fees scheme exists. If you qualify, your court or tribunal fee can be waived entirely or reduced to an amount you can afford. And since HMCTS launched the Help with Fees online service, you no longer need to download and complete the paper EX160 form — you can apply online in minutes and receive a reference number to use with your court filing.

This guide explains how the online system works, who qualifies, how to get your HWF reference number, and when you still need the paper form.

Apply Online — It Takes About a Minute

Help with Fees is now an online service, and it is quick. You answer a short set of questions about your income, your savings and the fee you are facing, and at the end you are given a Help with Fees reference code. That code is the thing that matters. You type it into your claim or application in place of paying, and the fee is reduced or removed.

Start here: www.gov.uk/get-help-with-court-fees — or go straight to the service and work through its checklist at helpwithcourtfees.service.gov.uk.

Three things people do not realise:

• The code is your passport. With it, a claim or application that would have cost you hundreds of pounds can cost you nothing. It is the single biggest barrier removed, and it is free to ask.
• You can claim a fee back. If you have already paid a court or tribunal fee in the last three months, you can still apply and ask for a refund. Answer the questions about your circumstances as they were when you paid.
• It works with the online money claim service. Get the code first, then start your claim — you enter the code at the payment step rather than paying.

The service is run by the Ministry of Justice and is currently badged beta, which simply means it is still being improved while it runs. The decisions it produces are real, and so is the money it saves you.

The paper form, EX160, still exists if you would rather apply by post or cannot use the online service. It is not the fast route, and most people do not need it.

Two Ways to Apply: Online or Paper

There are now two pathways to apply for help with court and tribunal fees:

1. Help with Fees Online (the primary route)

The online service is available at gov.uk/get-help-with-court-fees. You answer a series of questions about your financial circumstances, and the system tells you whether you qualify for full remission, partial remission, or no remission. If you qualify, you receive a Help with Fees reference number (in the format HWF-XXX-XXX) which you include on your court form when you file it.

2. Paper Form EX160 (the legacy route)

The traditional paper application using Form EX160 is still available. You download it from GOV.UK, complete it by hand, and submit it with your court form and supporting evidence. This method is still required in certain situations (see below), but for most applications the online route is now faster and simpler.

Which Should You Use?

• Filing online through OCMC (Online Civil Money Claims)? — Use the online HWF service. The OCMC system prompts you during the claim process and asks for your HWF reference number
• Filing a paper court form (N244, N323, N1, etc.)? — Use the online HWF service. Write your HWF reference number on the court form in the box marked “Help with Fees Reference”
• Filing at the court counter in person? — You can use either the online service (bring your HWF reference number) or submit a paper EX160 with your form
• No National Insurance number or Home Office reference? — You must use the paper EX160 form. The online system requires one of these for verification

Who Qualifies for Help with Fees?

Eligibility is assessed using two tests, applied in order. If you pass the first test, you qualify automatically. If not, you move to the second test.

Test 1: The Benefits Test (Automatic Full Remission)

If you receive any of the following benefits, you are automatically entitled to full fee remission — provided your savings do not exceed the threshold:

• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support
• Universal Credit (and you earn less than £6,000 a year)
• Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit)

Important: PIP, DLA, Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, and Child Benefit do not qualify you for automatic remission. However, they are also not counted as income under the income test, so they will not count against you.

Test 2: The Income Test (Full or Partial Remission)

If you do not qualify under the benefits test, the system assesses your gross monthly income against thresholds that depend on whether you are single or in a couple and how many children you have:

• Single, no children: £1,420 a month or less — report either your last calendar month or your 3-month average, whichever is lower
• Couple, no children: £2,130 a month or less
• Each child aged 0 to 13: adds £425 to the threshold
• Each child aged 14 or over: adds £710 to the threshold

If your income is above the full remission threshold, you may still qualify for partial remission — the court calculates a contribution based on how much your income exceeds the threshold.

The Savings Test — This Catches People Out

Even if you qualify under the benefits or income test, your savings must be below the relevant threshold:

• You and your partner are 65 or younger: the savings limit depends on your fee — up to £4,250 if your fee is £1,420 or less, rising to £16,000 if your fee is over £7,000 (most fees are under £1,420)
• You or your partner are 66 or older: up to £16,000, whatever the fee
• If you claim a qualifying benefit: the savings limit is usually £4,250

Savings include bank accounts, building society accounts, ISAs, Premium Bonds, stocks and shares, and any other capital. The value of your home and your car are generally excluded.

If you have a partner, their savings are included unless they are the opposing party in your proceedings.

Step-by-Step: Applying for Help with Fees Online

Step 1: Go to the Online Service

Visit gov.uk/get-help-with-court-fees and click “Start now”. The service is free to use and available 24 hours a day.

Step 2: Confirm Your Fee

The system asks which court or tribunal fee you need help with and the amount. You need to know the exact fee — check the fee schedule (EX50) if you are unsure. Each fee requires a separate Help with Fees application.

Step 3: Answer the Eligibility Questions

The online form takes you through a series of questions covering:

• Your date of birth
• Your marital or partnership status
• Whether you receive qualifying benefits
• Your National Insurance number (required for online applications)
• Your savings and investments
• Your gross monthly income (if not on qualifying benefits)
• The number of children dependent on you

Answer each question honestly. The system will cross-check your National Insurance number with HMRC and DWP records. A false declaration can result in the remission being revoked and the full fee becoming payable.

Step 4: Receive Your HWF Reference Number

If the system determines you are likely to qualify, it generates a Help with Fees reference number in the format HWF-XXX-XXX. This is your ticket. Write it down and keep it safe — you will need it for your court form.

The reference number is valid for 28 days from the date of issue. If you do not use it within 28 days, it expires and you will need to make a new application.

Step 5: Include the Reference Number on Your Court Form

When you file your court form — whether online through OCMC or on paper — enter your HWF reference number in the designated box. Most court forms now have a specific field for this. If your form does not have a field, write the reference number prominently on the first page with a note: “Help with Fees application — reference HWF-XXX-XXX”.

Step 6: The Court Processes Your Application

The court receives your filing and your HWF reference number. A court officer verifies your application against DWP and HMRC records. This typically takes five working days, though it can be longer if the court needs additional evidence from you.

There are three possible outcomes:

• Full remission granted: You pay nothing. Your court form is processed as normal
• Partial remission granted: The court tells you the reduced amount to pay. Your form is held until you pay the reduced fee
• Application refused: The court gives you 14 days to pay the full fee or request a review

Help with Fees Through OCMC

If you are issuing a money claim through the Online Civil Money Claims (OCMC) service, the Help with Fees application is integrated directly into the claim process. You do not need to visit a separate website.

During the OCMC claim submission, the system asks whether you want to apply for help with the court fee. If you select yes, it takes you through the same eligibility questions. Your HWF reference number is generated and applied to your claim automatically — you do not need to enter it manually.

If you have already obtained an HWF reference number from the standalone online service, you can also enter it during the OCMC process instead of going through the questions again.

Help with Fees for Tribunal Applications

The Help with Fees scheme does not only cover court fees. It also applies to fees charged by tribunals, including:

• Employment tribunals — though most employment tribunal claims currently have no fee, some related applications do
• Immigration and asylum tribunals — appeal fees
• First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) — leasehold disputes, rent repayment orders
• First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) — tax appeal fees
• Court of Protection — uses a separate form (COP44A) rather than EX160

The eligibility criteria and thresholds are the same regardless of whether the fee is for a court or a tribunal.

What Evidence Do You Need?

The online service attempts to verify your circumstances automatically using your National Insurance number. However, the court may contact you for additional evidence, particularly if:

• You are self-employed (you may need to provide your latest tax return or trading accounts)
• Your income is variable (payslips for the last three months)
• Your benefit award has changed recently
• Your savings are close to the threshold (bank statements showing balances)

If applying on paper using Form EX160, you must provide evidence with the form. For the benefits test, include your most recent benefit award letter or Universal Credit statement. For the income test, include payslips, bank statements, and evidence of all income sources.

What Happens If Your Application Is Refused?

If the court refuses your Help with Fees application, it will write to you explaining the reason. You have 14 days to either:

• Pay the full fee (or partial fee if partial remission was offered), or
• Request a review of the decision, providing additional evidence

The review is carried out by a different court officer. If the review also refuses your application, you can appeal to a designated court officer. In practice, most disputes at this stage are resolved by providing clearer evidence of your financial circumstances.

While the application or review is being processed, your underlying court form is held and will not be actioned. If your application is ultimately refused and you do not pay within the deadline, your court form may be returned unprocessed.

Common Mistakes

1. Not Using the Reference Number Within 28 Days

Your HWF reference number expires after 28 days. If you apply for help with fees but then take five weeks to file your court form, the reference will be rejected and you will need to apply again. Apply for help with fees when you are ready to file — not weeks in advance.

2. Using the Same Reference Number for Multiple Fees

Each court fee requires a separate Help with Fees application and a separate reference number. If you are filing a claim (court fee) and an application notice (application fee) at the same time, you need two HWF reference numbers. You cannot use the same one twice.

3. Forgetting Your Partner’s Income and Savings

If you have a partner — whether married, in a civil partnership, or cohabiting — their income and savings are included in the assessment. The most common reason for refusal is declaring only your own finances when you live with a partner whose combined income or savings take you over the threshold.

4. Declaring Net Income Instead of Gross

The system asks for gross monthly income — before tax and National Insurance. Many applicants enter their take-home pay, which is lower. While this might seem beneficial, the system cross-checks against HMRC records, and discrepancies delay or derail the application. Enter the correct gross figure.

5. Applying After Paying the Fee

Help with Fees must be applied for at the point of filing. If you have already paid the court fee, you cannot apply for a retrospective remission through HWF. There is a separate refund process, but it must be done within three months and is not guaranteed. The rule is: apply before you pay.

Paper EX160 vs HWF Online: When Do You Still Need the Paper Form?

The paper Form EX160 is still required in the following situations:

• You do not have a National Insurance number or Home Office reference number — the online system requires one of these for verification
• You are filing at the court counter and prefer a paper application — the court accepts both
• You are applying for a refund of a fee already paid — use the paper form to apply for reimbursement
• Technical issues with the online service — if the website is unavailable, the paper form is the fallback

For everyone else, the online service is the recommended route. It is faster, it is checked against government records automatically, and you get your reference number immediately.

Key Points to Remember

• Help with Fees is not means-tested the same way benefits are — the thresholds are specifically designed for court fees and are relatively generous
• PIP, DLA, and Carer’s Allowance are neutral — they do not qualify you for automatic remission, but they are not counted as income either
• The £4,250 savings threshold (for most people 65 or younger) catches people out — even a modest savings account can disqualify you. Check carefully before applying
• Each fee needs a separate application — you cannot cover multiple fees with one HWF reference
• Your reference number expires after 28 days — apply when you are ready to file
• Dishonesty can result in revocation plus costs — the system cross-checks with HMRC and DWP
• Do not let court fees stop you pursuing a legitimate claim — help is available, and the application takes minutes

Useful Links

• Apply online: Help with Fees online service (GOV.UK)
• Paper form: Download Form EX160 (GOV.UK)
• Guidance notes: EX160A — How to Apply for Help with Fees (GOV.UK)
• Fee schedule: Civil court fees (EX50) (GOV.UK)
• Fee calculator: EX160C Fee Remissions Calculator (GOV.UK)

Related Guides

• Form EX160: The Paper Fee Remission Form (Detailed Guide)
• How to Start a Money Claim in 2026: OCMC Replaces N1
• Form N244: How to Complete an Application Notice (2026)
• How to Enforce a County Court Judgment in 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is Help with Fees?

Help with Fees is the HMCTS scheme that can waive your court or tribunal fee entirely (full remission) or reduce it to an amount you can afford (partial remission) if you are on a low income or receive certain qualifying benefits. It exists because court fees can otherwise be a significant barrier to accessing justice.

How do I apply — online or on paper?

There are two routes. The online Help with Fees service is the primary route: you answer questions about your finances and, if you qualify, receive a reference number in the HWF-XXX-XXX format to put on your court form. The paper EX160 form is the legacy route and is still required in some situations — for example, if you do not have a National Insurance number or Home Office reference, you must use the paper form.

Who qualifies for fee remission?

Eligibility is assessed by two tests applied in order: a benefits test (certain qualifying benefits give automatic full remission) and, if that does not apply, an income test based on your household circumstances. Both routes are also subject to a savings test, which catches many people out. Your partner’s income and savings are normally included in the assessment.

Does Help with Fees cover tribunal fees too?

Yes. The scheme applies to certain tribunal fees as well as court fees, including immigration and asylum appeal fees, First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber and Tax Chamber) fees, and others. The Court of Protection uses a separate form (COP44A) rather than EX160. The eligibility criteria are the same whether the fee is for a court or a tribunal.

How long is my HWF reference number valid?

Your Help with Fees reference number is valid for a limited period from the date it is issued, and it expires if you do not use it in time — so apply when you are ready to file, not weeks in advance. Check the current period for your situation. Each separate court fee needs its own application and its own reference number.

What happens if my application is refused?

If the court refuses your application it will write to you with the reason, and you will have a short period to either pay the fee or request a review by a different court officer, providing clearer evidence. While the application or review is being processed, your underlying court form is held and not actioned. Check the current deadline before you act.

Related guides: N244 application notice guide · N1 claim form guide · Online Civil Money Claims (OCMC) guide · All civil court forms