Can I delay or get out of jury service?

You can ask to DEFER once, to a date within the next 12 months — when you reply to the summons you suggest 3 dates that work. Being fully EXCUSED is only for exceptional circumstances: serious illness or disability, being a full-time carer, a new parent who can't serve at any point in the next 12 months, or living outside England and Wales. Holidays, exams or work commitments usually mean deferral, not excusal.

What if I'm self-employed and jury service would cost me money?

You claim loss of earnings from the court using the self-employed certificate, with evidence such as your most recent tax return or accounts. The same daily caps apply — £64.95 a day for the first 10 days, £129.91 from day 11 — which may not cover your real losses on longer trials. If a long trial would cause serious financial hardship, tell the court when you reply: it can be grounds for deferral.

What happens to my benefits during jury service?

Tell Jobcentre Plus or the office that pays your benefit before you start. Universal Credit usually continues. If a benefit is reduced or lost because of jury service, you can claim the loss back from the court using the loss-of-benefit certificate. Keep the court's certificate of attendance as proof.

What happens if I ignore a jury summons?

Ignoring the summons or failing to turn up without permission can mean a fine of up to £1,000. Always reply within 7 days of receiving the summons — even if you want to defer or be excused, the reply is how you ask. Your employer also cannot sack you or treat you unfairly for doing jury service — that protection is automatic.

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Jury service — the pay, the deferral, and how not to lose money.

Q: Do I get paid for jury service?

Your employer must give you time off for jury service but does NOT have to pay you (some do — check your contract). Instead you claim from the court: loss of earnings and childcare capped at £64.95 a day for the first 10 days (for over 4 hours; about half that for 4 hours or less), rising to £129.91 a day from day 11. You can also claim travel costs and a daily food and drink allowance. If your employer keeps paying you in full, you can't also claim loss of earnings.

Last verified 11 Jun 2026 · Source GOV.UK jury service + MoJ juror allowance forms · Publisher: SortedUK Ltd (filed 5 Jun 2026)

A jury summons feels like an order — because it is one. But the system is more flexible than the envelope suggests: you can defer once to a date within 12 months, your employer must give you the time off (though they don’t have to pay you), and the court reimburses loss of earnings, travel and food — with caps you should know about before day one. Here’s the whole thing in plain English.

£64.95/dayLoss-of-earnings cap, first 10 days

£129.91/dayThe cap from day 11 onwards

12 monthsDefer once, to a date you suggest

£1,000Maximum fine for ignoring the summons

How the money works Got a different official letter? Decode it

First: reply within 7 days

You’re summoned from the electoral register, aged 18 to 75, and service usually lasts up to 10 working days (longer trials happen — the summons or the court will tell you).
Reply within 7 days, online or by post — even if you want to defer or be excused. The reply is how you ask.
Ignoring the summons, or not turning up without permission, risks a fine of up to £1,000.

The money — who pays you what

Your employer must give you time off, but does not have to pay you (many do — check your contract first). If they don’t, you claim from the court:

What	The rule
Loss of earnings + childcare	Capped at £64.95/day for the first 10 days (over 4 hours in court; roughly half for 4 hours or less), rising to £129.91/day from day 11. Your employer signs a loss-of-earnings certificate that comes with the summons.
Travel	Public transport costs, or a mileage rate if you drive — check the current rates on GOV.UK before choosing how to travel.
Food & drink	A small daily allowance for days you’re at court.

The cap is the trap If you earn more than ~£65 a day, the first two weeks of an unpaid jury stint will not be fully covered. Check whether your employer pays BEFORE you start, and if a long trial would cause you serious financial hardship, say so when you reply — it can be grounds for deferral.

Bad timing? Defer. Exceptional circumstances? Excusal.

Deferral — you can move your service once, to a date within the next 12 months. When you reply, suggest 3 dates that work. Holidays, exams, a booked operation, peak season for your business — all normal deferral reasons.
Excusal — only for exceptional circumstances: serious illness or disability, being a full-time carer, a new parent who couldn’t serve at any point in the next 12 months, or living outside England and Wales.
Need adjustments rather than excusal? Courts can support disabled jurors — tell them what you need when you reply.

Your job is protected Your employer cannot sack you or treat you unfairly for doing jury service. If they refuse you the time off or pressure you, that’s an employment-rights problem — ACAS on 0300 123 1100, free.

Self-employed, or on benefits?

Self-employed: claim loss of earnings with the self-employed certificate plus evidence — your latest tax return or accounts. The same daily caps apply, so a long trial can genuinely hurt; flag hardship when you reply.
On benefits: tell Jobcentre Plus or the office paying your benefit before you start. Universal Credit usually continues; if any benefit is reduced or lost because of jury service, claim it back from the court with the loss-of-benefit certificate.
Either way: keep the court’s certificate of attendance — it’s your proof for the claim, your employer and the DWP.

Do this now

Summons on the table? Reply within 7 days — defer with 3 suggested dates if the timing is bad. Then ask your employer one question: “Do you pay during jury service?” If the answer is no, get the loss-of-earnings certificate signed before your first day.

After service, claim everything — earnings, travel, food — usually within 14 days of finishing. Money left unclaimed stays with the court.

Scotland & Northern Ireland Different systems: Scotland summons through the Scottish Courts (different age rules and allowances — scotcourts.gov.uk), Northern Ireland through the NI Courts and Tribunals Service (nidirect). The figures on this page are for England & Wales.

Jury service — common questions

Do I get paid for jury service?

Your employer must release you but needn't pay you. The court reimburses loss of earnings and childcare up to £64.95/day for the first 10 days (£129.91 from day 11), plus travel and a daily food allowance.

Can I delay it?

Yes — once, to a date within 12 months. Suggest 3 dates when you reply to the summons. Full excusal is only for exceptional circumstances (serious illness/disability, full-time carers, new parents, living abroad).

I'm self-employed — what do I do?

Claim loss of earnings with the self-employed certificate and evidence (tax return or accounts). The caps still apply, so flag serious financial hardship when you reply — it can justify deferral.

What about my benefits?

Tell the office that pays you before you start. UC usually continues; any benefit lost because of jury service can be claimed back from the court with the loss-of-benefit certificate.

What if I just ignore it?

Don't — that's a fine of up to £1,000. Replying takes minutes and deferral is routinely granted for genuine clashes. And your employer can't sack you or punish you for serving.

Sources Summons, deferral (once, within 12 months, 3 suggested dates) and excusal grounds · GOV.UK jury service + delaying or being excused. Loss-of-earnings caps £64.95/day (first 10 days) and £129.91/day (day 11+) · MoJ forms 5223C/5223D. Employment protection · ACAS / Employment Rights Act 1996. Up-to-£1,000 fine for non-attendance · GOV.UK. SortedUK is not HMCTS and this is general information, not legal advice. Last reviewed: 11 June 2026.

Your safest next step today

Reply first. Negotiate second.

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