Government to scrap legal aid advice

[EllieD123]

Hello,

I have been hearing some worrying news from friends that work in the advice sector, that the Government is planning to get rid of legal aid advice for people who want to appeal welfare benefits decisions.

This means that single mums and other people on low incomes will not be able to get the legal advice they need to overturn wrong decisions about their benefits.

Disability charity Scope and Justice for All are running a campaign to try and stop this decision from going ahead. You can join their virtual House of Lords here: bit.ly/lordshelpus

Thanks.

they are also cutting it for a lot of family work as well so people wanting divorces etc may struggle (Not sure of exactly what is being cut yet but i work in a solicitors and they are re-organising the whole of the family department, moving people into new departments to accomodate the amount of legally aided work we will lose)

Legal aid is going to be withdrawn for all civil and family cases except those where there has been proven domestic violence. The House of Commons has passed it but there is still some hope that the Lords will amend the legislation.

However, the planned date for the implementation of this has been put back to April 2013. See article here: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8929005/Clarke-in-fresh-set-back-over-legal-reforms.html

It is just possible that the government is quietly changing its mind over this.