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<p>Victims of domestic abuse must have access to the help they need - including legal
aid, which is subject to a means and merits test. We are working closely with practitioners
to understand the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on victims and this week the Government
announced funding of £800,000 for a helpline and email service to assist unrepresented
victims applying for an emergency protective order from the courts.</p><p> </p><p>The
Legal Aid Agency is exercising flexibility with regard to the evidential requirements
in relation to the means test to mitigate the effects caused by lockdown measures.
This includes suspending the time limits by which applicants are expected to submit
the substantive legal aid application with supporting means evidence (such as bank
statements) and allowing practitioners to submit applications with electronic signatures
from the client.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that victims of domestic abuse may need
legal aid quickly in emergency situations, so there is already an eligibility cap
waiver in place, which means that an applicant for a protective injunction may be
eligible for legal aid even if they have income or capital above the thresholds in
the means test, though they may have to pay a financial contribution towards their
legal costs. We are currently conducting a review of the means test, as part of which
we are considering the experiences of particular groups of legal aid applicants –
including victims of domestic abuse.</p>
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