Practitioners may be somewhat surprised but probably pleased, to read this clarification, recently issued by the LAA in respect of work carried out under Legal Help.
The LAA says that where prison wages are the client’s only income, there is no need to obtain evidence from the prison as to the exact level of earnings. Note though that evidence will still be needed for wages from outside employment and those on ‘working out’ schemes.
Capital and partner’s income rules remain as before.
Update 1st April: this post was amended to make clear this applies to all cases where a prisoner is the client, not just prison law cases
Legal Aid Handbook 