Jury service expenses are ridiculous

[Dinosaurus86]

Posting here partly for traffic, partly because it is ridiculous and wondering if anyone has experience.

Have just been called for jury service. I am PT self employed. Have a one year old not in any formal childcare. I also have a just turned four year old who is in nursery for two full days and one further short one / week. The wording of my letter seems to suggest that you can get a maximum amount of £64/ day to cover both loss of earnings and additional childcare costs. Does anyone know if this is correct? Because it is less than even the full day rate for nursery before I even take any loss of earnings into account - and that is just for one child - no idea what I’d do about the younger one. We have some family but not enough to cover full time, and she isn’t used to being away from me. Not sure if I should attempt to defer or if will just have the same problems in a few months… help!!!

I did jury service end of September which I had deferred. When I deferred I had to list 3 new dates I was able to do.

I did a jury service a few years ago. I had a 2 year old toddler at the time and got my name drawn for a case to do with child abuse.. i explained I would not be able to do it as even thinking about such case was making me very upset as a mum of a little one. They were very understanding and didn’t call me on that case. I’d advise you to defer in your circumstances.

Childcare is a good reason to defer.

I was fortunate that my employer still paid me. I also claimed the expenses so I was actually in profit. It was the most boring 10 days of my life. I wasn't asked once. Just sat there hour after hour!

I've never been called. I'm 60 and early retired from an IT job and would love it (I think!). Maybe there should be a database of people who'd like to do it and never been called.

I mean, you can surely see why this is a bad idea?!

I sometimes wonder what would happen if I was called. I have 2 children in primary school, both likely ASD but undiagnosed as yet. In theory I could put them into afterschools each day (I.e. afterschools has space for them), but in practice neither of them would cope with having to go every day for weeks on end. They’d be ok for a day or two but then would get overwhelmed by it.

Without a diagnosis I’m not sure that that would be accepted, though. We’ve no one else who could take them; again they can’t cope with too much of a change in routine and would likely both end up in massive meltdown.

The expenses really are that low. I was on a zero hours contract when I did it and my employer kindly paid me my average salary but they weren't obliged to. Hope you can defer.

My retired DH was called to jury service, to a court 40 miles away, at the time he wasn’t driving and public transport is awful here.
He wanted to do it but it meant leaving at 7am and not getting back until 8pm. Luckily the case was ‘only’ 10 days but he was well out of pocket by the end with taxis, train fares, food and drink etc.

You can defer, but when they call you up again, you can't defer again ... expenses are terrible and even employers aren't obliged to pay you,though must release you for the time.

How does it interact with benefits? And requirements to jobseek?

DH did jury service a few years ago, luckily his employer paid his usual wages, but claiming them was a bit of a palaver. A woman at the same time got a deferral as she had dogs to look after and no help.

I was excused several years ago with a small child and no alternative childcare.
They managed to summon my mother two months after she died. 🙄

It’s a civic duty so we’re kind of lucky they pay anything out at all

It’s not fair that it should cost money, though. Plenty of people are on tight budgets as it is. I agree that no one should be making money from it, but they shouldn’t be losing out either.

This is the issue for me, that the money paid isnt the same as NMW.

Two weeks out of work for jury service....fine. But two weeks that mean I cant pay my bills (already on a v low income) not fine.

As it is I was called late 2024 and was excused as I am a carer for my parents but I work the maximum part time hours too because otherwise I would be surviving on minimum UC and carers allowance.

The expenses should be based on an 8 hour day at NMW with travel etc on top.

I've managed to get to my late 50s without it and have been called for the first time next month.

I wrote with evidence to tell them I had fractured my ankle and could I defer - no! 🙈

No idea how I am getting there as I can't drive yet, and even if I could do the bus I can't walk the 1km from the bus station to the court. They said they won't pay for taxis.

No. UC claimants are excused from work related activity while on jury service.

It doesnt affect UC (I had to look this up when I was called) and you are excused job seeking requirements while serving but you have to give your job coach proof of being called. There are special arrangements made after 8 weeks in the unlikelihood of a trial going on that long.

It’s odd how it’s done. You’ve been called 4 times whereas I’m 43 and never done it and really want to!

I believe you can appeal their refusal. But you will probably need to provide proof.

This happened to me - almost to the day! You can only defer once (or when I deferred in 2020 it was once) but almost exactly a year later was when I was called. I deferred based on bf a newborn with no childcare.

Do not ask to defer!! You’ll have to give them dates when you can do it- and you’ll be in the same position.

Ask to be excused. This is really important.

I did this, I wrote that the amount wouldn’t cover my wages and childcare and that one of my children was not in childcare and that I can’t just book in random childcare at an unknown place for unknown dates. I also wrote my husband was self employed so he couldnt do it. I also said I was the only person who did my job- so same would apply to you being self employed. I also mentioned I had to do the school run for my eldest.

needless to say I was excused 🤣

3 adults in my household 2 of which have done jury service. Not me as I have a MH illness so wouldn’t be able to (my MH problems and ptsd due to violence men/criminals).

In both cases of jury service I was really worried about safety as cases with violence.

in one case employer paid full wages no loss of earnings. In other case my poor DS had to get there by public transport which was 2 buses 2 trains and his employer did not want him to even go let alone pay him any wages. He’s on a low income and jury service meant he used up all his savings.

I know several people who have been called regularly and we have a theory that if you do it the first time with no quibbles then they know you are a safe bet! My sister has been called several time as she just does it. My father was called once and couldnt do it as he was out of the country when he was due to serve, so deferred. Then his deferral was cancelled and he has never been called since, and is now too old to be called. He would love to do it now!

Sister says he should be grateful to not be called as it was so boring! They had one "open and shut" case that took one day and the rest of the time she spent reading her book on a very uncomfortable chair.

Just another type of tax on being a UK resident I guess