Expansion of Eligibility for Legal Aid from 1 October 2026

30 SEP 2026

1. From 1 October 2026, the Ministry of Law will raise the income threshold for civil legal aid and the asset threshold for both civil legal aid and criminal defence aid. This will allow more households to benefit from legal assistance and enhance access to justice for those in need.

2. The Government provides legal aid to vulnerable and lower-income Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents through the Legal Aid Bureau (LAB) and the Public Defender’s Office (PDO). LAB provides civil legal aid with the support of volunteer lawyers appointed as Assigned Solicitors. The PDO co-delivers criminal defence aid with Pro Bono SG, which administers the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme. To qualify for government legal aid, applicants will need to satisfy the means and merits tests.

3. These changes will enable more Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents to qualify for legal assistance. The changes, which were first announced at the 2026 Committee of Supply debates, are summarised in the table below:

4. Up to 1,000 more Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents are expected to benefit annually from the increased PCHI threshold for civil legal aid. The three most common categories of civil legal aid cases are matrimonial matters, monetary claims, and probate matters.

5. Applicants with extenuating circumstances will continue to be reviewed by an independent means test panel comprising legal and social service professionals. For more information on applying for civil legal aid or criminal defence aid, members of the public can visit the LAB and PDO websites respectively:

a.        Legal Aid Bureau: https://lab.mlaw.gov.sg/legal-services/how-do-i-apply-for-legal-aid/

b.        Public Defender’s Office: https://pdo.mlaw.gov.sg/criminal-defence-aid/how-to-apply/

6. The PCHI was previously adjusted in 2022 and 2024 to account for the increase in household income over the years. MinLaw will continue to review the means test thresholds regularly.

MINISTRY OF LAW
30 SEPTEMBER 2026

Last updated on 30 September 2026