Petrol for volunteering

moose1982

BoGoF wrote: »

But if the post is voluntary I assume it's unpaid therefore there is no earnings against which a deduction can be made.

The tax code would be adjusted on that persons paid job as expenses below a certain amount (45p per mile) is not taxable.

moose1982

hcb42 wrote: »

unless the OPs car is hopelessly uneconomical, which i assume not, s/he wont be out of pocket at 29p.

Shouldn't be, but it is meant to be a small contribution towards wear and tear of the vehicle as well. For example a service will come around quicker with the journey than without (assuming set miles per service).

BoGoF

moose1982 wrote: »

The tax code would be adjusted on that persons paid job as expenses below a certain amount (45p per mile) is not taxable.

I'm sorry but that is incorrect. The expenses can only be set against income from the source they were incurred against.

moose1982

Stephy, also, check your insurance will cover you, some insurance companies will require you to have business cover in order to be claiming mileage expenses (not sure on the exact rules, but it is experience in my case). If they say it is needed, then explain that it is a voluntary role and chances are you'll get it for free, I always have done and so have most people I've spoken to, but some do charge a small amount extra for it.

moose1982

BoGoF wrote: »

I'm sorry but that is incorrect. The expenses can only be set against income from the source they were incurred against.

HMRC have always accepted my claims in the past though for a voluntary role being against my full time position? Have the rules changed recently that I don't know about?

BoGoF

moose1982 wrote: »

HMRC have always accepted my claims in the past though for a voluntary role being against my full time position? Have the rules changed recently that I don't know about?

Nope, you got lucky.....

Another point is even if it were considered an 'employment' the travelling in the OP's position would be considered ordinary commuting anyway.

stephy110288

moose1982 wrote: »

Stephy, also, check your insurance will cover you, some insurance companies will require you to have business cover in order to be claiming mileage expenses (not sure on the exact rules, but it is experience in my case). If they say it is needed, then explain that it is a voluntary role and chances are you'll get it for free, I always have done and so have most people I've spoken to, but some do charge a small amount extra for it.

Thank you I'm covered for Social, Business and Commuting because for my part time job I have had to use my car, so I guess I'm covered for that. Like you say, it's the wear and tear my partner is worried about. I'm happy with the rate of petrol that they give me, but it's a small car that barely has any miles on the clock but I'm going to be adding a fair few now!

stephy110288

2sides2everystory wrote: »

Careful stephy, unless things have changed a lot since I worked in insurance, there is no such typical Use Restriction on any normal policy as "Social, Business and Commuting".

The phrase I am familiar with is "SDP and Commuting" which is short for "Social, Domestic, Pleasure and Commuting."

SDP and Commuting is a more restrictive version of what three decades ago was the standard and was something like "SDP and Own Business" where the "Own Business" was driving in person in relation to your own business or that of your employer which is closest to what you may be doing.

The cheaper Commuting restriction allowed driving to and from your normal place of business but did not include driving around during the day in between different places of business and still doesn't AFAIK.

PS This "volunteering" and internship malarkey has got way out of control if you ask me. I really feel for those of you who feel this is the only way you can build the experience/CV you need. But do be careful.. The invalid insurance is one problem, and the suggestion that 29p/mile is a realistic mileage allowance indemnity probably lost most of its credibility in the 1990s.

Also, what status have you if you are injured whilst volunteering? I am serious. The Prime Minister talks complete rubbish about Employers Liability insurance protection so I imagine there are many bosses in charge of volunteers who talk even more rubbish about it. Workers Compensation insurance to give UK statutory Employers Liability Insurance its worldwide generic title was thrashed out over decades of insurance company and law-makers' experience for a reason. As an "employee" you are statutorily protected in the UK

1. should a colleague make a mistake and injure you,
2. should your training be inadequate and cause you or a colleague injury, and
3. should you be caused to operate under an unsafe system of work which caused you or a colleague an injury.

If not designated as an employee (as Work Experience persons commonly are after a formal request is made to the insurer to treat them as such) then you are merely a Third Party if injured and you would have to prove negligence in every case including the three statutory scenarios I mentioned above. Has anyone made a formal request to treat you as an employee for EL insurance purposes? If you are "working" directly for the NHS, I don't know if they arrange any EL insurance like private companies do. Even more reason to understand what happens if you are injured e.g. attacked by a patient before it happens.

These things were thrashed out over decades by good people of all political persuasions for good reason and we don't need johnnie-come-latelies like Cameron taking them apart on a whim, thanks.

Thanks for all the info Insurance I may have got confused about... I know I am covered for communting, and for driving around while working ( I worked as a housekeeper for serviced apartments all over the city so needed it for that ) Is there anything else I should be insured for? I thought I had it covered for everything!
With the NHS role, without going into too much detail... I know that if I am "affected" mentally by what I do that they will provide councelling free of charge... other than that nothing has been mentioned. With HMP, I have an induction on Tuesday, and now you mention it obviously with working in a prison I am at risk of harm so I am wondering what they will do about that. It's difficult because it's been SO hard for me to get these placements, and without them, I won't get onto the Clinical Doctorate of Psychology course. I can't be a clinical psychologist without completing this so my only choice is to volunteer as much as possible. So I don't like the thought of going in and making all kinds of demands about petrol etc as I know that they can easily find someone else who is willing to volunteer without the petrol money. The only thing that annoys me is if I got public transport I would be refunded the whole of the cost of the ticket, whereas I don't think that the 29p per mile really covers the mileage I am adding onto the car... but like I say, not really in the position to make demands about it!