Table of contents
-
Table of contents
- 1 – Introduction
- 2 – Types of matters that may be assisted
- 3 – Criminal law guidelines
- 4 – Commonwealth family law and child support guidelines
- 5 – Commonwealth civil law guidelines
- 6 – State family guidelines
- 7 – State civil law guidelines
- 8 – Public interest and strategic litigation
- 9 – Standard grants assessment process
- 10 – Simplified grants assessment process
- 11 – Referral and practitioner panels
-
12 – Means test
- Whose income and assets are assessed in the means test?
-
Income test
- Estimated legal costs and the income test
- How the initial contribution is calculated based on income
- How income is calculated
- What is included as income
- Allowable deductions
- Assets test
- Documentary proof of means
- 13 – Commonwealth merits test
- 14 – State reasonableness test and interests of justice test
- 15 – Special circumstances
- 16 – Applying for a grant of legal assistance
- 17 – Decision to grant or refuse assistance
- 18 – Reconsideration and review of decisions
- 19 – Standard terms and conditions
- 20 – Contributions and overdue payments
- 21 – Abandoning legal assistance
- 22 – Finalising grants of legal assistance
- 23 – Allocation of work to lawyers and law firms
- 24 – Payments to lawyers and service providers
- 25 – Compliance reviews
- 26 – Privacy protection
- 27 – Complaints and feedback
- Topic index
- Invoice, worksheets and forms
- Contact us
How the initial contribution is calculated based on income
If the net disposable income of the person applying for the grant of legal assistance is $256 or more a week, VLA uses Table 2 to calculate:
- the amount of the initial contribution which VLA will require the person to pay towards their legal costs; and
- the period of time over which the person must pay the amount in instalments.
Table 2 – Calculating the initial contribution payable by a person whose net disposable income is $256 or more a week
|
Net disposable weekly income (rounded) |
Category 1: – estimated costs less than $1385 – contribution paid over 13 weeks |
Category 2: – estimated costs $1385-$5835 – contribution paid over 26 weeks |
Category 3: – estimated costs more than $5835 – contribution paid over 52 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| $255-264 ($260) | $280 | $580 | $1175 |
| $265-274 ($270) | $340 | $800 | $1605 |
| $275-284 ($280) | $430 | $1005 | $1995 |
| $285-294 ($290) | $530 | $1230 | $2455 |
| $295-304 ($300) | $605 | $1500 | $3030 |
| $305-314 ($310) | $740 | $1765 | $3545 |
| $315-324 ($320) | $870 | $2060 | $4180 |
| $325-334 ($330) | $1070 | $2395 | $4855 |
| $335-344 ($340) | $1219 | $2840 | $5670 |
| $345-354 ($350) | $1418 | $3240 | $6485 |
| $355-364 ($360) | $1617 | $3640 | $7305 |
| $365-374 ($370) | – | $3830 | $7720 |
| $375-384 ($380) | – | $4360 | $8770 |
| $385-394 ($390) | – | $4890 | $9735 |
| $395-404 ($400) | – | $5375 | $10,900 |
| $405-414 ($410) | – | $5885 | $11,780 |
| $415-424 ($420) | – | $6435 | $12,835 |
| $425-434 ($430) | – | $6980 | $13,900 |
| $440 and over | – | – | $13,900 plus $1065 for every $10 of net disposable weekly income more than $440 |