The £500 Family Mediation Voucher — Do You Qualify?

Good news: The Ministry of Justice has confirmed funding for the Family Mediation Voucher scheme will continue for the 2026-27 financial year. This successful scheme offers eligible separating families up to £500 towards the cost of mediation sessions about child arrangements.

Since its launch, over 37,700 families have used the voucher scheme, with around two-thirds reaching full or partial settlement without needing to go to court. The Family Mediation Council (FMC) welcomed the funding confirmation, noting that helping families avoid court saves immediate costs and leads to better long-term outcomes for children.

What surprises most people is how straightforward it is. There is no income threshold. You don't fill in an application form. Your mediator handles the paperwork after your sessions are complete. Here's everything you need to know.

Do You Qualify?

Eligibility is simple. You qualify if your dispute involves children specifically if it falls into one of these categories:

• ✓A dispute about child arrangements where children live, contact with the other parent, holidays
• ✓A dispute about family finances where you are also involved in a dispute about children
• ✓Both parties must attend a MIAM and agree to proceed with mediation
• ✓You must use an FMC-accredited mediator (like Clear Path Families)
• ✗The voucher does not cover financial-only disputes with no child element
• ✗The voucher does not cover the cost of your MIAM

There is no means test the voucher is available regardless of your income or savings. Every eligible family gets the same £500 contribution.

How Does It Work in Practice?

You don't need to do anything special to claim the voucher. Here's the process:

1. Book and attend your MIAM the initial one-to-one meeting with a mediator. This costs between £100–£200 and is not covered by the voucher.

2. The mediator confirms eligibility at your MIAM, they will check whether your case qualifies for the scheme.

3. You sign a simple consent form confirming you want the mediator to apply for the voucher on your behalf and that you haven't used the scheme before.

4. Mediation sessions proceed the £500 is applied directly to the cost of your sessions.

5. The mediator claims payment once all sessions are complete, your mediator submits the claim to the Family Mediation Council. You receive no physical voucher and handle no money.

How Much Will I Actually Pay?

Mediation session costs vary by mediator and location, but in Manchester you can expect to pay roughly £120–£180 per person per session. At Clear Path Families, our session fees are competitive and transparent there are no hidden charges.

If you need 3 sessions and each costs £150 per person, your total cost would be £450 each but with the £500 voucher applied (shared across both parties), many families find their mediation is significantly subsidised or in some cases fully covered.

What If I'm on Benefits?

If you receive Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, or certain other means-tested benefits, you may qualify for Legal Aid. Legal Aid covers both your MIAM and all subsequent mediation sessions at no cost to you — it goes further than the voucher scheme. Your mediator can check your eligibility at the MIAM.

You can also benefit from both Legal Aid for your own sessions, and the voucher scheme is still available separately.

Frequently Asked Questions