Being unemployed does not, by itself, allow you to refuse jury service. If you receive a valid jury summons, you must respond and follow the instructions even if you do not have a job. You can ask for the date to be changed or apply to be excused where you have a genuine reason, but the court decides whether to approve the request.
The rules and claim arrangements differ across England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. This guide explains the position in each jurisdiction and what to do if jury service could affect your benefits, caring responsibilities or finances.
In brief: Do not ignore a jury summons because you are unemployed. Reply by the deadline, tell your benefit office or work coach promptly, keep receipts and use the process on your summons if you need a deferral, excusal or help with costs.
Can you refuse jury service if you’re unemployed?
No. Unemployment is not an automatic exemption from jury service in the UK. Whether you are eligible to serve depends on the jury rules in your part of the UK, not simply on whether you are employed, looking for work or receiving benefits.
In England and Wales, you must respond to a jury summons within seven days. Asking to change the date or to be excused is not the same as refusing: you must give your reason, may need to provide evidence and should continue to follow the summons until the court confirms its decision.
If you do not return the form or attend when required in England and Wales, you can be fined up to £1,000. Northern Ireland also warns that non-attendance can lead to a fine. Scotland has its own citation, eligibility and excusal process, so always use the instructions issued by the court that summoned you.
Does being unemployed exempt you from jury service?
No. Being unemployed, claiming Universal Credit or looking for work does not appear as an automatic exemption in the official jury guidance. An unemployed person who meets the relevant eligibility rules can be summoned in the same way as an employed person.
Some people are disqualified, ineligible or entitled to ask for excusal because of their age, occupation, legal history, health or other circumstances. Those categories vary between UK jurisdictions. Do not decide for yourself that one applies: disclose the relevant facts on the summons and let the court confirm the position.
For England and Wales, GOV.UK says a juror will normally be aged 18 to 75, registered to vote and have lived in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man for at least five years since turning 13. There are separate disqualification rules, including some criminal justice circumstances. Even if you believe you are disqualified, you must still reply to the summons.
What should you do when a jury summons arrives?
Read every page and reply by the stated deadline. In England and Wales, the deadline is seven days after receiving the summons and you can respond online or by post. Other parts of the UK use their own forms and processes.
Use this checklist:
- Check which court system issued the summons: England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland.
- Confirm the response deadline and attendance date.
- Respond even if you think you are not eligible or cannot attend.
- Explain any health, caring, financial or scheduling problem truthfully.
- Include the supporting evidence requested by the form or court.
- Show the summons to your benefit office or work coach as soon as possible if you receive benefits.
- Keep the court’s decision, expense forms and all relevant receipts.
- Attend as instructed unless the court confirms a change or excusal.
Contact details for the court or jury office should be on the summons. In England and Wales, the Jury Central Summoning Bureau can answer questions about the summons and decisions.
Can you defer jury service to a later date?
You may ask to defer jury service if the scheduled date causes a genuine problem. In England and Wales, you can normally ask once to move the service to another date within the next 12 months. You must explain why the original date is difficult and suggest three alternative dates when you can attend.
A deferral changes when you serve; it does not cancel jury service. A pre-booked operation, exam, important caring commitment, job interview or other fixed event may support a request, but approval is not automatic. Give specific dates and evidence rather than saying only that the timing is inconvenient.
Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own procedures. In Northern Ireland, you apply using Part II of the summons and supporting documents. The Customer Service Centre normally makes the decision until one week before attendance; after that, the relevant court office or judge deals with it.
When might the court excuse you from jury service?
A court may excuse you when there is a sufficiently serious reason why you cannot serve, but complete excusal is generally harder to obtain than a deferral. In England and Wales, GOV.UK describes excusal as exceptional where you cannot serve at any point in the next 12 months.
Examples that may be considered include:
- a serious illness or disability that prevents you from serving;
- being a full-time carer for someone with an illness or disability;
- being a new parent in circumstances that make attendance impossible;
- living outside England and Wales; or
- having completed jury service within the previous two years.
This is not a guaranteed or exhaustive list. The court may request a medical certificate, appointment letter, proof of caring responsibilities or other evidence. If your request is rejected in England and Wales, GOV.UK explains how to appeal the decision in writing.
Can financial hardship be a reason to avoid jury service?
Financial hardship should be explained to the court, but it does not automatically cancel a jury summons. Say precisely how attendance would affect you, what benefits or income are involved, why the available allowances would not meet the problem and whether a different date would help.
The court can consider the individual evidence and may approve a deferral, an excusal or neither. If the trial is expected to be long, ask jury staff early about hardship arrangements and whether expenses can be paid during the trial rather than only at the end.
If unemployment has already made bills or debt difficult to manage, our guides to budgeting while unemployed and dealing with debt while out of work provide separate practical starting points. They do not replace advice from the court or your benefit provider.
Do you get paid for jury service if you’re unemployed?
You are not paid a wage for doing jury service, but you may be able to claim specified expenses and financial losses. What you can claim depends on where you serve and your circumstances.
| Where you are summoned | Main process | Expenses and financial support |
|---|---|---|
| England and Wales | Reply to the summons within seven days; request deferral or excusal through the GOV.UK process | Non-working jurors can usually claim travel, food and drink, and additional care or childcare outside their usual arrangements. Benefits normally continue for the first eight weeks. |
| Scotland | Follow the citation and Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service guidance | Allowances may cover travel, subsistence, loss of earnings or benefits, childminding, adult care and certain other costs, subject to the Scottish rules and evidence. |
| Northern Ireland | Complete the summons; use Part II and evidence for an excusal or deferral request | Jurors may claim allowances for travel, meals and financial loss within the applicable limits. Claims normally require evidence and receipts. |
Do not use an allowance figure from another UK jurisdiction. Read the expenses information enclosed with your summons and check the current official page before committing to care or travel costs.
What can a non-working juror claim in England and Wales?
A non-working juror in England and Wales can usually claim travel, food and drink, and the cost of care or childcare that is additional to their normal arrangements. The court does not pay a salary for jury service.
The current published limits checked on 12 September 2026 are:
| Expense | Published England and Wales limit |
|---|---|
| Additional care or childcare, first 10 working days | Up to £32.47 a day for four hours or less at court, or £64.95 for more than four hours |
| Additional care or childcare after 10 working days | Up to £64.95 a day for four hours or less, or £129.91 for more than four hours |
| Food and drink | Up to £5.71 a day when at court for 10 hours or less, or £12.17 for more than 10 hours |
| Bus, Underground or standard-class train | Eligible ticket cost |
| Bicycle | 9.6p per mile |
| Motorcycle or car | 31.4p per mile, with separate passenger additions; ask whether parking is covered |
| Taxi | Fare only with the court’s permission |
Limits and rules can change. Use the latest GOV.UK guidance for jurors who are not working, keep tickets and receipts, and ask the court before using a taxi or incurring an unusual cost.
How do you claim jury service expenses?
Follow the claim instructions given by the court and submit the required evidence. In England and Wales, you usually make the claim at the end of jury service and must claim within 12 months of the date your service began. GOV.UK says payment is normally made within seven to 10 working days after a claim is received.
Keep travel tickets, childcare invoices and other receipts from the first day. If waiting until the end would cause hardship or you are selected for a long trial, speak to jury staff because an earlier payment may be possible.
Northern Ireland normally requires a juror allowance claim within 14 days after completing service. Scottish claims follow the forms and evidence requirements issued by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.
Will jury service affect Universal Credit or other benefits?
In England and Wales, GOV.UK says financial support and benefits such as Universal Credit continue for the first eight weeks of jury service. Show the summons to your benefit office or work coach as soon as you receive it so that your record and any agreed requirements can be handled correctly.
Most jury service lasts up to 10 working days, so many people will finish well within eight weeks. If the case lasts longer, the court can provide a loss-of-benefits form for your benefit office or work coach. Ask both the jury manager and the organisation responsible for your benefit what you must do; do not assume that every benefit follows an identical administrative process.
Scotland and Northern Ireland use different allowance and benefit arrangements. Contact the relevant benefit office and court using the details supplied with your citation or summons.
Do you have to attend Jobcentre appointments during jury service?
Tell your work coach about the jury summons immediately and ask how your claimant commitments and appointments will be handled. Do not simply miss a Jobcentre appointment or stop completing agreed tasks without notifying them.
Jury service is a legal public duty, but the practical changes to appointments or work-search activity should be recorded by the person managing your claim. Keep copies of the summons, attendance confirmation and messages in case you later need to show why you were unavailable.
How long does jury service usually last?
Jury service in England and Wales usually lasts up to 10 working days, although a trial can be shorter or much longer. The summons tells you when to attend, but being summoned does not guarantee that you will be selected for a trial.
If jury service continues longer than expected, tell your work coach, benefit office and anyone providing paid care. Ask jury staff what further evidence they can supply and whether higher expense limits or interim payments apply.
What happens if you ignore or refuse a jury summons?
Ignoring a summons is not a valid way to refuse jury service. In England and Wales, failing to return the form or attend can lead to a fine of up to £1,000. Giving false information to avoid service may create further legal consequences.
If you have missed the response deadline or attendance because of illness, a postal problem or another genuine emergency, contact the jury office or court immediately and explain what happened. Provide evidence where possible. Do not wait for a reminder or assume that silence means the summons has been cancelled.
Northern Ireland also warns that failure to attend can be fined. In Scotland, follow the warning and contact instructions on the citation because its rules and procedures are separate.
Do jury service rules differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland?
Yes. England and Wales share one system, while Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate rules on eligibility, excusal, court procedure and expenses. Advice for one jurisdiction may be wrong in another.
The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service explains who is disqualified, ineligible or excusable as of right, as well as applications based on ill health, disability or another special reason. Northern Ireland’s nidirect guidance separates people who are not qualified, disqualified, ineligible or excusable and explains how to request deferral or excusal.
Use the official source for the place named on your document:
- GOV.UK jury service guidance for England and Wales
- Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service juror guidance
- nidirect jury service guidance for Northern Ireland
Frequently asked questions
Can the court refuse an excusal or deferral request?
Yes. A request and supporting evidence do not guarantee approval. Continue to follow the original summons unless the court confirms a change, and use any review or appeal procedure explained in the decision.
Can a job interview justify changing the date?
A fixed job interview may support a deferral request, particularly if it cannot reasonably be rearranged, but the court decides. Explain the date, why the interview matters, attempts to change it and alternative dates when you can serve.
Can childcare or caring responsibilities excuse you?
They can be relevant, especially if you are the full-time carer for someone with an illness or disability or no reasonable alternative care is available. Explain the exact arrangement and costs, provide evidence and ask about care allowances as well as excusal or deferral.
Can illness or disability excuse you from jury service?
A serious illness or disability may support excusal, or the court may be able to make reasonable adjustments. Give accurate details and any requested medical evidence. Do not assume that having a diagnosis automatically prevents service.
Can you volunteer for jury service?
No. In England and Wales, potential jurors are selected at random from the electoral register. You cannot put yourself forward to serve on a particular case.
Can you be summoned if you are over 70?
The answer depends on the jurisdiction. In England and Wales, the usual upper age for jury service is 75. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different rules and routes for older people to request excusal, so follow the guidance for the court that contacted you.
Can you avoid being selected by dressing in a certain way?
No legitimate clothing tactic guarantees that you will not be selected. Attend in clean, comfortable and respectful clothing, comply with court security and follow the instructions from court staff.
Can Money Trumpet tell the court that you cannot attend?
No. Money Trumpet has no role in the jury service process. You must respond directly using the contact details and procedure on your summons.
Sources and review information
This guide was newly researched and written for Money Trumpet and last reviewed on 12 September 2026. Principal sources were GOV.UK guidance on responding to a summons, eligibility, deferral and excusal, claims for non-working jurors and claiming expenses; the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service pages on excusal and juror expenses; and nidirect guidance on summonses, exemptions and juror allowances.
This article provides general information, not legal or benefits advice. Court procedures, allowance rates and benefit rules can change. Follow your summons or citation and obtain advice from the relevant court, benefit provider or a qualified adviser for your circumstances.