Fees are now payable at different stages of employment tribunal proceedings.

Fees must be paid when the ET1 form is lodged at the employment tribunal (issue fee) and when a case is put down for a final hearing (hearing fee).  The fees applicable to a particular case depend on whether there is a single claimant or multiple claimants and whether the claim falls  into the Type A or Type B category.

The issue fee for a Type A claim is £160 and for a Type B claim is £250. The hearing fee for a Type A claim is £230 and for a Type B claim is £950.

Type A claims include claims for:

• statutory redundancy payments,
• equal pay,
• unlawful deductions from wages,
• breach of contract, and
• failure to inform and consult as required by TUPE.

Type B claims include claims for:

• unfair dismissal,
• discrimination, and
• whistleblowing.

If a claim form contains both Type A and Type B claims, then the fee for a Type B claim is payable.

Claimants who cannot afford to pay the fees may be eligible to have some or all of their fees reimbursed if they are in receipt of a sufficiently low income.

If a claim is not accompanied by the issue fee or an application for a fee remission, then the tribunal will reject the claim.  The claimant will be able to present the claim again with the fee or remission application as long as the claimant is still within the limitation period.

Fees are also payable when making an application, such as for dismissal of a claim following withdrawal.  The fee to be paid varies according to the type of claim and the application being made. A fee of £600 is also payable by the respondent if the parties opt for judicial mediation.