Important update notice for legal aid suppliers - COVID-19 Interim Payment Scheme

The COVID-19 Interim Payment Scheme went live on 7 May 2020.

Details of the Scheme can be found within ‘LSA 05-2020’ on the ‘Circulars 2020’ page and the enabling ‘Direction’ within the ‘Legislation and guidance’ page of the LSANI website.

As at the close of business on 11 May 2020, the Agency had processed 264 requests under the Scheme. Of these requests 191 have been authorised and payments issued for £90,296.70. A further 73 requests were rejected as they failed to satisfy the qualifying period and conditions of the Scheme. The value of the rejected requests was £38,706.

The table at Annex A sets out the reasons why the 73 requests were refused.

Practitioners must familiarise themselves with the terms of the Scheme and should ensure that all requests meet the conditions imposed by the Scheme.

In addition to the issues set out at Annex A some practitioners have manipulated the request to add VAT to the claim line. Practitioners should simply claim the appropriate fee and VAT will be added once the Agency has authorised the request.

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