The introduction of Employment Tribunal fees in July 2013 has caused a massive impact on the numbers of Employment Tribunal claims brought in England, Wales and Scotland.
Northern Ireland has not seen the instruction of fees for Employment Tribunals.
To bring a claim, many people are now required to pay an issue fee of £160 and hearing fee of £230 for straightforward cases such as unlawful deduction of wages and redundancy payment claims or an issue fee of £250 and hearing fee of £950 for more complicated matters such as unfair dismissal and discrimination claims.
Clearly, this has caused difficulties for people on low incomes who wish to bring claims and some estimates suggest that the number of claims brought by workers have fallen by up to as much as 59% between 2013 and 2014 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27807516).
On 11th June 2015, and just 2 weeks before a judicial review of the fees system brought by Unison, the Government announced that it will be conducting a review of the effect of the introduction of fees for Employment Tribunals. It remains to be seen as to what, if anything, comes from the review however we are sceptical as to whether it will result in the ability to bring a claim being improved.
Despite all of this, Employment Tribunal fees are not always a bar to bringing claim. There are ways in which you can still proceed with a claim. These include:
- Fee remission scheme – this for Claimants without income, or on a low income. This is particularly applicable to people who have recently lost their jobs.
- Insurance policies – many people have home or car insurance policies that actually cover the costs of employment law claims.
We have been able to assist large numbers of people since the introduction of fees with remission applications meaning they have been able to pursue a claim despite being unable to pay the fee. If you are considering bringing a claim but are concerned about your ability to pay, please contact us to discuss your options.
Contact us today for a free initial consultation.
Need help?
For a FREE assessment of your claim, call 0808 168 7288 or fill in the contact form on the top right of this page.
We have already helped thousands of people to win millions of pounds in compensation.
You have a choice of ways to pay, including ‘no win, no fee’.
We will also discuss the best methods of funding your case and seek to reach a solution that best suits your needs. This can involve a “no-win, no-fee” agreement if appropriate.
“Paul was able to recover the fee of £160 I paid for a Tribunal claim that I submitted. The process was quick and uncomplicated.” S. Kenny, Newcastle upon Tyne.