Legal aid revoked ( domestic abuse) because I misunderstood

[brillopants]

My legal aid has been revoked because I failed to tell them I had a change in benefits-
I have been in a fog of ptsd and dealing with a trauma affected Sen child and I genuinely thought the criteria was just proven domestic abuse, I didn't know some benefits were contribution based.
I gave my explanation but they aren't allowing it. I'm scared I'll have to pay the lot back.
I am at the end of the court process, but I know in future my abusive ex will take me back to court and I'll have no one to support me.

Anyone have experience? I am low income, due to having to give up work to care for my child.
Ex is loaded, but hides his income as self employed so can go on forever back to court but little maintenance.

Life feels very unfair at the moment. I have been fighting to protect my dc, but it seems like the money , not fairness, talks.

Sorry I have no advice but bumping for you

That does seem like an incredibly unfair rule. Surely if you qualify for it due to DV then you qualify!

They have said I am liable for the full amount, as if I'd never had legal aid. I honestly just made a stupid mistake, in the midst of stress and a police investigation on the extreme abuse my ex visited on me ( and others, I found out) I was just not on the ball. I could think coherently or string a sentence together. I moved from a no contribution based benefit to one where I should've been making a small contribution. I didn't tell them- It honestly didn't occur to me.

I have appealed saying I will make up the shortfall and pretty much begging for mercy.
My ex financially abused me so we were left with nothing, plus I borrowed from my parents and a bank loan so we could move and then pay the last bit of court as it had been revoked by then.

It's such a mess just when I thought we had a little way clear to move forward.

• couldn't think coherently

Bump

Can your solicitor reapply stating your new benefit situation? If not I would simply state that you can't pay it & look into your solicitors failing to help you reapply for the costs - if you are eligible due to DV then why are they not supporting you with this?

The CAB may help if the solicitors won't.
You could also try legalbeagles a site that gives free legal advice.