SENDING IN YOUR FORM EX160 BY POST, ALONG WITH THE COURT FORM YOU ARE ASKING FOR HELP WITH THE FEES – 

• NOTE 1 – Please keep a copy of your form EX160 for yourself outside of the copy you send to the court.
• NOTE 2 – You can complete form EX160 online and print a hard copy. Alternatively you can print the form and complete it with black pen.
• NOTE 3 – You only need to send 1 copy to the court by post or email. 
• NOTE 4 – Please send your completed EX160 form to the court that is dealing with your case or application.  
• Form EX160 is 8 pages long.
• Page 1 gives you an explanation that before starting to complete your form EX160 you will need your National Insurance Number or Home Office Reference Number, your court form number for which you are applying for help with the fees and your case/claim number if you have one. You will also need to have ready details of your savings, income and investments. If you have a partner then you will also need their National Insurance Number, their date of birth and details of their income, savings and investments.
• Part 1 on page 2 of the form will ask for your personal details – full name, address, email address, date of birth and national insurance number/home office reference number. 
• Part 2 on page 3 will ask your marital status whether you are single, married or living with someone and sharing an income. Please tick the relevant box and read the explanation of what is classified as single or married or living with someone with regards to this form. If you have ticked the single box then please go to part 4. If you have ticked the married or living with someone box then complete part 3.
• Part 3 on page 3 will ask for your partner’s full name, date of birth and National Insurance Number.
• Part 4 on page 3 will ask you if you have already paid the court or tribunal application fee and if so the date when the fee was paid. You can apply for a reimbursement for a fee paid in the previous 3 months. You will need to attach proof that you have paid this fee. 
• Part 5 on page 4 will ask about the court application form you are asking help with. You need to write the number of the court application form in the box and the name of the form. If you do not know the form then you are required to describe the fee you are applying for help with.
• Part 6 on page 4 will ask if you have a case, claim or a ‘notice to pay’ number. You must write it in the box if you have one.
• Part 7 on page 4 will ask if you are paying for a probate case (about the assets and finances of a person who has died). Please complete as required. 
• Part 8 on page 4 will ask you how much do you have in savings and investments. If you have a partner you must include the amount of savings and investments they have also. There are 3 boxes and you will need to tick the relevant one to you – whether you have less than £4250.00 in savings and investments, between £4250.00 and £15,999.00 in savings and investments or £16,000.00 and above in savings and investments. 
• Part 9 on page 4 will ask whether you or your partner are 66 years of age or over and how much savings and investments do you and your partner (if you have one) have. 
• Part 10 on page 5 will ask if you receive any of the listed benefits – income based jobseekers allowance, income based employment and support allowance, income support, universal credit or pension credit.  If you tick the ‘YES’ box you can skip parts 11, 12 and 13. 
• Part 11 will ask whether you or your partner have any children living with you or you are supporting financially and if so how many aged 0-13 years or 14 years or older. A child is a person aged 16 or under or aged 19 and under if in full time education. 
• Part 12 on page 6 will ask what types of income have you and/or your partners had in the last one month or average of 3 months. You are provided with a list and you must tick all the relevant boxes.
  • You must NOT include the following benefits – carers allowance, PIP, housing benefit or childcare element of working tax credit.
  • If you have ticked the ‘YES’ box for child benefit or child tax credit or income maintenance payments then you must attach proof to your form EX160.
• Part 13 on page 6 will ask you the figure in pounds for yours and/or your partners if you have one income for the last month or average of the last 3 months. This figure must be before National Insurance and tax are taken off.
• Part 14 on page 7 will ask you to sign and date a declaration and statement of truth. You must tick the relevant box to declare whether you are the applicant, litigation friend or legal representative. 
• Part 15 on page 8 asks for the name, address, email address and position of the litigation friend or legal representative if they are completing this form.  
• You will need to attach proof of yours and/or your partners income. You can send copies. This can be 3 months current account bank statements into which your benefits or wages are paid, wage slip/tax return if applicable or a benefits letter.

• As stated previously you can send form EX160 along with the court form you are applying for help with. If you are sending your form EX160 separately, then please send it to the same court you sent the form to that you are asking for help with. Please send your Ex160 form to the court within 28 days of signing it. You can post your form to the court or send it via email. 

SENDING IN YOUR FORM EX160 ONLINE – 

Please note that the screen/page you will be directed to during this EX160 application will depend upon your answers. Below, I am summarising what you will be asked but it may not be in the order I have set out because of your answers. 

• When completing form Ex160 online –
• On the first screen, you will be asked to input the number or detail of the form you are asking for help with fees. Or you can tick the box which says, ‘I don’t have a form’, if all you need is a ‘help with fees’ reference number.
• The next screen, will ask if you have already paid the fee of the court form and are asking for a refund. If you have paid the fee you will be asked for the date the fee was paid. You can apply for a refund for a court form fee within 3 months from when you paid it.
• Next, you will be asked for your national insurance number. If you do not have one, then you will be asked for your home office reference number. If you don’t have a national insurance number or a home office reference number, you cannot apply online and will be asked to submit a completed hard copy of form EX160 by post. If you have your national insurance number you must write your national insurance number in the box.
• You will then be asked if you are single, married, or living with someone and sharing an income.
• You will then be asked how much savings you have and which benefits you are claiming. If you ticked the box which said you were married or are living with someone, then you will need to include/add their savings, income, and benefits as well as your own. Please answer accordingly. 
• Now you will be asked if you have any children living with you and if they are financially dependent on you. If you do you must put the number of children in the box provided. 
• You will be asked about your income, certain benefits, and how much you get every month. You will need to select the relevant box.
• You will be asked if you are paying for a probate case. This concerns the assets and finances of someone who has died. If you are then you will be asked the name of the deceased and the date of death.
• The next screen will ask if you have a case, claim, appeal, or ‘notice to pay’ number.
• You will now be asked for your date of birth, full name, postal address, and email address.
• Before you submit your form, you will be asked to check your details.
• You will now get a ‘help with fees’ reference number starting with HWF.
• You must put this ‘help with fees’ reference number on any court form you are asking for help with and send it in to be assessed. The court will let you know if you are successful.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND FORM EX160/DOWNLOAD THIS FORM?

Please click on the link below to download a paper copy of form EX160 from the government website. As said above, please complete and send by post (signed for recorded delivery) to the court along with the court form you are asking for help with. You can also complete and send online.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR FORM EX160 

WHEN WAS FORM EX160 FIRST PUBLISHED AND LAST UPDATED?

Form EX160 was first published by the government (HM Courts & Tribunals Service) on 22-03-2016 and it was last updated on 02-09-2024.