Legal aid question, kind of panicking

hey all

i have to go to crown court for a criminal case. my plea hearing is in next couple of months and I plan to plead not guilty.

I have been applying for legal aid. i live with my partner. My take home pay is between 2200-2400. My partner brings home 2300.

legal aid first said I would need to pay £872 a month

my share of rent is 840, 90 council tax, 30 electricity, my travel to work is about 220 a month and then about 200 for food. So the 872 amount while was higher than expecting was doable.

they asked us to submit more payslips and bank statements which I did for me and my partner. they have now come back and said I have to contribute 2160 a month towards the cost.

this seems insane giving I won’t even have that amount left over once I have paid my necessary outgoings as outlined above. What am I supposed to do? The hardship form says it takes into account stuff like rent, food, bills etc.

or are they expecting my partnerr to have to also contribute towards it? Which I really didn’t want as that doesn’t seems fair:

any advice appreciated