We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
The Forum now has a brand new text editor, adding a bunch of handy features to use when creating posts. Read more in our how-to guide

Voluntary work & benefits

Hiya, i've been off of work a while & claiming benefits, but now feel ready to try voluntary work to see how stable I am to do 'real' work. Can I do this while in Incapacity Benefit & Income Support? Obviously if I am stable & finding I can work i'll be going onto JSA & looking for paid work also

Comments

  • Sailor_Sam
    Sailor_Sam Posts: 278 Forumite
    I am off work sick and on benefits, for the last year i have been doing 2/3 days voluntary work each week, i told my local Jobcentre and they said, no problem as long as i do not get paid, i only get out of pocket travel allowance.
    I have also started a p/t degree with the OU, about 16hrs per wk, and the Dhss pay for this.
    A good cowboy always drinks upstream from the herd.
    A good cowgirl always keeps her calves together.
  • Hiya,

    I've been off work now for over 12 months, I tried to do voluntary work in my local charity shop. I did a couple of hours a day 3 days a week but alas it beat me and made my illness worse, and now my doctor's had strong words with me about doing it !!!

    I know you can do up to 16 hours a week voluntary whilst claiming IB, just let the job centre know that you are doing it in case anybody tries reporting you for working whilst claiming.

    and Good luck.
    £10 a day challenge £349.01/£3650
    Declutter 97/1095
    Weight Loss 10/81 lbs
  • foxxymynx
    foxxymynx Posts: 1,270 Forumite
    yes but you have to seek permission

    https://www.oppretunities.org.uk can help you (Employment Oppertunities) they're funded by the government for people like you ;)
    If my typing is pants or I seem partcuarly blunt, please excuse me, it physically hurts to type. :wall: If I seem a bit random and don't make a lot of sense, it may have something to do with the voice recognition software that I'm using!
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 354.4K Banking & Borrowing
  • 254.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 455.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 247.3K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 604K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 178.4K Life & Family
  • 261.5K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.7K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.