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UK government begins refunding Employment Tribunal fees

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Justice minister Dominic Raab
Justice minister Dominic Raab

The first phase of the scheme to refund Employment Tribunal fees has been launched by the UK government.

Justice minister Dominic Raab said that the phase will last up to four weeks and will begin with refunds being issued to people who have contacted the Ministry of Justice since the Supreme Court’s judgment in R (Unison) v Lord Chancellor, including interest.

Mr Raab said: “This phase is primarily aimed at people making applications for refunds in single claims. During this period, we will also be working with the Trades Unions on how this process should be best applied to applications for refunds in larger multiple claims.

“We plan to roll out the full refund scheme early in November. At that point, anyone who has paid a fee in the Employment Tribunals, whether in a single or multiple claim, will be able to claim a refund.”

Those who will be eligible to apply for a refund under the scheme are:

  • People who paid a fee directly to the Employment Tribunal or Employment Appeal Tribunal and have not been reimbursed by their opponent pursuant to an order of the Tribunal.

  • People who were ordered by the Tribunal to reimburse their opponent their fee and who can show that they have paid it.

  • Representatives (such as a trade union) who paid a fee on behalf of another person and have not been reimbursed by that person.

  • The lead claimant (or representative) in a multiple claim who paid a fee on behalf of the other claimants.

    • To receive a refund, applicants will be invited to complete an application form with their details, details of their employment tribunal claim and the fees that they paid. These details will be verified against HMCTS’s records.

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