Volunteering while on benefits
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Volunteering while on benefits

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You are free to volunteer while you are receiving benefits as long as the work you do is unpaid.

Volunteering shouldn’t affect your right to benefits, as long as the only money you receive is to cover your volunteering expenses, such as travel from home to the volunteering location.  For example if you receive Jobseekers Allowance you must still be actively seeking a full-time job, able to attend job interviews at 48 hours notice and available to work at one week’s notice.

You must declare all your expenses to your Jobcentre Plus office. If the only money you receive is to cover the cost of your expenses from volunteering, your benefit will not be affected.  If you receive any money apart from money to cover your expenses this will usually be treated as income and taken into account when assessing your benefit.

For more information on this topic see this direct.gov page

There is also a leaflet you can download titled "Volunteering while getting benefts"

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