Juror Care Expenses Claim Form UK: How to Apply
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Serving on a jury is a civic duty, but it can throw up practical headaches, particularly if you are the main person looking after a child, an elderly relative, or a vulnerable adult at home. If you have had to arrange and pay for someone to step in while you were at court, the courts service allows you to claim back reasonable extra costs through a dedicated form.
This page walks through what the juror care expenses claim form is for, who needs to sign which part, and what supporting paperwork to gather before you hand it in. The aim is to give you a straightforward picture of the process so you can submit a clean claim the first time, without delays or requests for further information from your Jury Officer.
Overview
The Juror's Childcare/Vulnerable Adult/Elderly Care Provision Expenses Claim is a court form issued by HM Courts and Tribunals Service. It lets jurors recover the extra care costs they had to pay out while attending court, provided those costs were genuinely additional to their normal household arrangements.
In practice that covers paying a childminder, nursery, or family member to look after a child, or arranging a professional or informal carer for an elderly parent or a disabled adult you usually support. The form is not a general compensation form for loss of earnings or travel, which are dealt with separately.
It focuses purely on care provision. You will need to give your own details, have the person who actually provided the care complete their own section confirming hours and charges, and then sign a declaration confirming everything stated is accurate. Receipts, invoices or written confirmation from the carer are normally expected alongside the form.
Key steps
- Collect the form from your court. Your Jury Officer will usually hand out the claim form on your first day of jury service, or you can ask for a copy at the court office. Check you have the current version before you start filling it in, as forms are updated periodically and older versions may be rejected.
- Fill in your personal section. Enter your full name, your juror number (shown on your summons or badge), your home address, and the names of the people you had to arrange care for during your sitting days. Keep the details consistent with the information already held by the court to avoid any administrative mismatch.
- Ask your carer to complete their part. The person who provided childcare, elderly care, or support for a vulnerable adult must fill in their own section. They need to record the dates they worked, the hours covered, their hourly or daily rate, and the total charged. A family member acting as the paid carer should still complete this honestly.
- Gather your supporting evidence. Attach invoices, receipts, or signed statements from the care provider that back up the figures on the form. Nurseries and registered childminders typically issue formal invoices, while informal carers can write a short note confirming the hours and amount paid. Keep copies for your own records.
- Sign the declaration and submit. Read the juror's declaration carefully, then sign and date it to confirm the claim is truthful. Hand the completed form and supporting documents to your Jury Officer at the court, or send it in by the method they specify. Providing false information can lead to serious consequences, so double-check everything before submitting.
Common questions
Q Who can claim jury care expenses?
Any juror who had to pay for extra care during their jury service can apply. This includes those arranging childcare beyond their usual routine, or those who normally care for an elderly relative or vulnerable adult and had to pay someone else to cover those duties while attending court. The costs must be genuinely additional, not ones you would have paid anyway regardless of jury service.
Q Is there a cap on how much I can claim?
HM Courts and Tribunals Service applies daily limits to juror expense claims, including care costs. These limits are reviewed from time to time, so the exact figure may change. Check the current rates on gov.uk or ask your Jury Officer before you submit. If your actual costs exceed the cap, you generally cannot recover the difference, so it is worth knowing the ceiling in advance.
Q Can a family member be paid as the carer?
Yes, a relative or friend can act as the paid carer, provided they are not someone who already lives with you and would normally carry out that role without charge. They will need to complete the care provider section of the form honestly, stating the hours worked and the amount you paid them. The court may ask for further confirmation if the arrangement looks unusual.
Q Do I need receipts to claim?
Supporting evidence is normally expected. A registered nursery or childminder will provide an invoice, which is the cleanest form of proof. For informal arrangements, a short signed note from the carer confirming the dates, hours, and sum paid is usually acceptable. Without any evidence at all, your claim may be queried or refused, so gather paperwork as you go rather than leaving it until the end.
Q When should I submit the form?
Most jurors submit the form at the end of their service, handing it straight to the Jury Officer at court. If your jury service runs over several weeks, you can sometimes make interim claims. There are time limits for submitting claims after your service ends, so do not sit on the paperwork. Ask the Jury Officer what deadline applies at your court.
Q What if my claim is refused?
If the court rejects part or all of your claim, ask the Jury Officer for the reason in writing. Common issues include missing evidence, figures above the daily cap, or inconsistencies between your form and the carer's section. In many cases you can correct the paperwork and resubmit. If you disagree with the decision, you can raise it with the court manager.
Q Are travel and loss of earnings claimed on this form?
No. Travel to court, subsistence, and loss of earnings are handled through separate juror expense claim forms. The care provision form deals only with the cost of looking after dependants while you sit as a juror. Your Jury Officer can provide you with the other forms if you also need to claim for those categories.
Sources
This guide is based on primary UK law and official guidance.
- Guidance · UK GovJury service – gov.ukgov.uk
- Guidance · UK GovJury service expenses and loss of earnings – gov.ukgov.uk
- Guidance · UK GovHM Courts and Tribunals Servicegov.uk
Legal disclaimer
This article is for general information only. It is a tool to help you find your way — not legal advice, and not a substitute for speaking to a qualified adviser about your situation.