What can an employee claim whilst on jury service

As an employee it’s important to note that your employer is not required to pay your wages whilst you are on jury service.

If your employer has chosen not to pay you whilst you are on jury service, you can claim a loss of earnings allowance from the court. To do this your employer will need to complete a “loss of earnings form” (https://bit.ly/JuryServiceClaim) and you will need to take it with you on your first day of jury service.

How much you can claim to cover loss of earnings and care or childcare costs outside of your usual arrangements, depends on the length of your jury service and how many hours you spend at court each day:

• The amount starts at £32.47 per day if you are at court up to 4 hours or less, and then £64.95 if you are at court over four hours,
• £5.71 per day for food and drink up to 10 hours, over 10 hours a day you can claim £12.17 per day,
• the cost of travel to and from court.

If your jury service lasts longer than 10 working days, the amount you can claim increases up to:

• £129.91 a day if you spend more than 4 hours at court,
• £64.95 a day if you spend 4 hours or less at court.

 You will be advised how to claim expenses after your jury service has ended.

 Your employer must allow you time off for jury service. However, if your absence would seriously harm the business, your employer will need to provide you with a letter explaining why.  Jury service can only be delayed once in a 12-month period, so if you were called up again in that period you would have to attend.

Note If you are self-employed, you can obtain insurance cover for jury service.