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Claimants of welfare benefits such as Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit and Disability Living Allowance are entitled to volunteer without losing their benefits. There are some important provisos though, which potential volunteers should be aware of before going ahead with their voluntary work.
This is work undertaken without payment. This can be helping out a neighbour, or volunteering with a not-for-profit organisation. The work should not be something that an organisation should have paid you to do, nor should it be for a close relative.
As much as you like. If you’re claiming Job Seekers Allowance though, you still need to be actively seeking, and available for work.
Volunteers should not be out of pocket for the contribution they make to the community, so they can usually claim expenses. These can cover the costs of travel, food and specialist equipment required to carry out the voluntary work.
Expense claims should not exceed actual expenses incurred. If a volunteer is paid in excess of their expenses, this will be interpreted as payment for work done, and the volunteer’s benefit could be affected. The volunteer could be liable to pay tax on this money, and the organisation could fall foul of minimum wage legislation.
It must be reasonable for the organisation not to pay you. If it is found that the organisation should reasonably have been paying you (e.g. they have paid staff performing the same tasks and could afford to pay for you) then your benefit could be reduced by the amount that you should have been paid.
Potential volunteers should notify the benefits office where they make their claim before they start voluntary work. The benefits office can stop benefits if they find that a volunteer has started volunteering without sending them the proper notification. The form on the reverse of this sheet can be used to notify the appropriate benefits office of voluntary work, once the volunteer has identified what they would like to do. (If benefits are claimed from more than one office this form should be copied to both.)
Note: if you are claiming Incapacity Benefit / Disability Living Allowance this should NOT trigger an extraordinary fitness for work test. The benefits office should not require a doctor’s letter about volunteering.
Volunteers must tell the office at which they make their claim that they are about to start voluntary work (see overleaf).
Volunteers claiming Job Seekers Allowance should be actively seeking work as agreed with their personal advisor and contactable if the chance of a job comes up.
Volunteers claiming Job Seekers Allowance should be available to work within one week or go for an interview within 48 hours.
Please complete this form and send it to the benefits office(s) where you make your claim before starting your voluntary work. If there is a problem with you doing voluntary work while claiming benefit, a member of the benefits office staff will contact you. Assuming proper notification of voluntary work by you was given, your benefits should not be affected. If you have questions about this form please contact us.
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Title
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Surname
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First names
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Date of birth
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National Insurance No.
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Address
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1. Pease give the name of the body or person you intend to volunteer for:
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2. Is the work being done for a close relative?
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3. What date does the voluntary work begin?
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4. Please describe briefly the work being undertaken:
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5. How many hours / days will be volunteered?
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6. Give details of expenses incurred in respect of voluntary work (e.g. travel):
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7. Please give details of any other work being undertaken (either paid or unpaid):
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Please sign and date here:
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This form was prepared by Volunteer Centre Edinburgh on advice from Job Centre Plus.
More information can be had from the Job Centre Plus leaflet [JSAL 7JP] ‘Financial help if you work or are looking for work’, or the Job Centre Plus web site: www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk. You can also contact the Customer Services Manager in your local Job Centre Plus.
Your local Volunteer Centre will be able to advise on volunteering and welfare benefits. Please contact us for further information.
