Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF) has moved to curb automatic access to free legal aid, known as *justiça gratuita*, in labor disputes by establishing a R$5,000 (about US$975) monthly income threshold for the benefit. The landmark decision, which concluded the judgment of Declaratory Action of Constitutionality (ADC 80) on September 3, means that workers earning more than R$5,000 a month can no longer rely on a simple, unilateral declaration of poverty to avoid paying legal costs, and must instead provide concrete proof of their financial inability to cover court fees. The ruling creates a more stringent and unified national standard for accessing subsidized justice, a change that provides greater legal certainty for businesses but significantly alters the terms of access for higher-earning workers.