Can I still claim benefits if I become a volunteer?

Yes. All benefits rulings agree that volunteering is working for a not-for- profit organisation or for someone that is not a family member, where only reasonable expenses are paid such as travel and lunch.

How long can I volunteer for each week?

You can volunteer for as long as you want to as long as you still meet the criteria of the benefit that you are claiming. This will depend on the volunteer opportunity itself and how much spare time you have to volunteer.

How do I decide which organisaton to volunteer with?

When choosing an organisation to volunteer with, it is useful to think about why you are looking to volunteer. Different people want different things from their volunteering and should always be a two way process for you and the organisation.

You may want to think about:-

• What the organisations’ mission statement, aims and beliefs are
• What days you are available and how far you want to travel
• What out of pocket expenses will be paid
• How the current volunteers are supported
• What training is available for the volunteer role?
• What is the recruitment process?
• How you can share your existing skills and expertise
• What will be expected of you?