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Will volunteering affect my benefits?

No. Volunteering should not affect your benefits if you follow these rules:

Money:

  • You should only get money to pay you back for what you spend for volunteering, like travel costs.
  • You must not get extra money.

Job search rules:

  • If you have a claimant commitment, you can include volunteering if your work coach agrees.
  • Volunteering can help you get skills, experience and references, and can count for up to half of your job search time.

If you have limited ability to work:

If the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says you have “limited capability for work”, you can still volunteer. But:

  • Only do tasks you are able to do. Make sure your volunteering doesn’t go against the reasons you got the benefit.
  • Choose roles that help your health and wellbeing.
  • Make sure the DWP understands what your role involves, how much support and flexibility you need.
  • If you want to try something to test your ability to do tasks in a safe and predictable way, make sure the DWP understands this.
  • Note that the new, “‘Right to Try’ does not stop reassessments happening for other reasons.”

What does the UK Government (DWP) say?

The UK Government web site says:

“Volunteering can help you to develop new skills and try something new. It can help you prepare for paid work by increasing your confidence and experience.

“You can volunteer while receiving benefits as long as you continue to meet all the conditions of your benefit.  Tell the office that pays your benefits about any volunteering that you are planning to do before you start.”

We strongly advise you to look at gov.uk/guidance/volunteering-and-claiming-benefits (opens in new browser tab/window) where many of your additional questions have been answered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Is Volunteering included in the new “Right to Try” Guarantee?

Yes. The UK Government’s ‘Right to Try’ is for anyone that receives:

  • Universal Credit (UC) who have been assessed as having Limited Capability for Work (LCW) or Limited Capability for Work Related Activity (LCWRA);
  • or New Style Employment and Support Allowance (New Style ESA) who have been placed in the Work Related Activity Group or the Support Group;
  • or Adult Disability Payment (the equivalent of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in Scotland).

“Volunteering will not, on its own, lead to a reassessment of a benefit award.”

Click here to read the UK Government’s summary of ‘Right to Try’ (opens in new browser tab/window)

Got questions?

If you wish to speak with someone in confidence about volunteering and benefits, contact one of our advisers at Volunteer Glasgow.

 

Further information

For groups and organisations: how to avoid putting people’s DWP welfare benefits at risk

Additional guidance is available for groups and organisations. It includes how to provide people with expenses for volunteering. And how to provide in-kind support with food, travel, clothing and warm venues. We’ve worked with colleagues nationally and the DWP to provide the guidance.  You’ll find it in the section on “Best Practices” at this link: Volunteer Wiki – Volunteering and UK State Benefits

photo of Allan - VAS - and Denise - DWP - signing Partnership agreementBackground:

The guidance on the gov.uk web site (link above) was originally published by the DWP following a co-design process in Scotland in 2017.  A refreshed version of the guidance has now been published since July 2019 by the DWP for use across the UK.  It answers most of the questions put to the DWP in 2017 in Scotland by people volunteering and claiming benefits.

If you’d like to know more about how we have worked from 2013 with a range of partners and stakeholders to help DWP produce clear guidance, please see the news items below.


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