Voluntary Work - JSA & Universal Credit

Voluntary work is entirely voluntary. You cannot be required to volunteer for an organisation that the work coach selects.

How many hours you can volunteer for

You can volunteer for as many hours as you like, as long you continue to meet the conditions of the benefit you get.
The conditions for your benefit could include things like:

• attending a job interview with 2 days’ notice
• starting work within a week
• rearranging or giving up your volunteering to start a job

If you’re looking for paid work, you may agree with Jobcentre Plus to do some volunteering as part of your activities to prepare for work.

Universal Credit and volunteering
If you get Universal Credit, your volunteering can count to up to half the time you agree to spend looking for and preparing for work in your ‘Claimant Commitment’.

More detailed information here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/volunteering-and-claiming-benefits

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/151141/response/364597/attach/3/FoI%20892%20attachment.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/150038/response/364617/attach/2/FoI.783.response.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1

The content of your claimant commitment must take into account the hours you spend volunteering.

To meet the 'reasonable criteria', it is preferable to select voluntary work that suits you work/training goals.

Thanks.

If you decide to volunteer will you have to get your claimant commitment updated to take this into account?

JSA:

DMG 21648
Page 160

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/721764/dmgch21.pdf

For some unknown reason I cannot copy and paste!!

Thanks.

What is the connection to 'reasonable criteria' in:

"To meet the 'reasonable criteria', it is preferable to select voluntary work that suits you work/training goals.W

and "Voluntary work is entirely voluntary"?

When "entirely voluntary" any voluntary work can have nothing whatsoever to do with:

"voluntary work that suits you work/training goals"?

Suggest voluntary work can never be "entirely voluntary" when 'facilitated' via a Jobcentre.

Volunteer links
https://do-it.org/
https://www.ncvo.org.uk/ncvo-volunteering/i-want-to-volunteer
https://www.gov.uk/government/get-involved/take-part/volunteer

Hello Frank,

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/151141/response/364597/attach/3/FoI%20892%20attachment.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1

The adjudication process allows the DWP 'work coach' on occasions to submit reasons why the chosen volunteering is unreasonable.

Based on experience, most people select voluntary work that is helpful to their current or future job goals/training.

"The adjudication process allows the DWP 'work coach' on occasions to submit reasons why the chosen volunteering is unreasonable"

IE: Not entirely voluntary

compared to

Voluntary work is entirely voluntary"?

DWP staff cannot direct/require JSA or UC claimants to take the step of applying for voluntary work.  The claimant decides if they wish to volunteer.

The catch…

DMG 21607 (p154)

Any steps can be taken providing they give the claimants the best chance of getting offers of employment.


https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/721764/dmgch21.pdf


Selecting volunteering that does not meet the criteria may occasionally lead to a referral to the DM.  No sanctions are applied, it would simply entail a revision of the CC/ the voluntary opportunity.

It is highly improbable that the volunteer opportunities on:

https://do-it.org/
https://www.ncvo.org.uk/ncvo-volunteering/i-want-to-volunteer
https://www.gov.uk/government/get-involved/take-part/volunteer

would be deemed 'inappropriate' by a 'coach'.

As the DWP and it's 'Work coaches' are delivering a hostile environment and policy for claimants would suggest anyone interested in volunteering:

1. Never mention the interest to a 'coach'. This will stop the interest being added to your 'commitment' and acting as a form of coercion (nudge)
2. Pursue volunteering work via likes of the links above, or direct to orgs
3. Seek advice from volunteer agencies/centres, who also will b familiar with benefit 'rules'
4. Once the work is found and role offered formally discuss with your 'coach' and have your commitment adjusted
5. Formally complain if your 'coach' threatens to refer your role to a Decision Maker and challenge any DM decision

If you wanted a volunteer role with a Trade Union, there could be reasons you might not want to add the role to your CV, as employers are known to discriminate against Trade Union activists.
The same goes for volunteering with likes of Extinction Rebellion, noting reports on it being presented as an extremist org by the Police. You might have a history in an area of paid work but want to volunteer with any org that might bring you into disrepute with an employer if they knew of the work.

"How many hours you can volunteer for?

You can volunteer for as many hours as you like, as long you continue to meet the conditions of the benefit you get.

The conditions for your benefit could include things like:

attending a job interview with 2 days’ notice
starting work within a week
rearranging or giving up your volunteering to start a job
...
Universal Credit and volunteering

If you get Universal Credit, your volunteering can count to up to half the time you agree to spend looking for and preparing for work in your ‘Claimant Commitment’.
Example

You volunteer for an organisation for 20 hours a week. Your Claimant Commitment states you are to undertake 30 hours a week work search and work preparation activities. That means 15 hours of voluntary work will count towards your 30 hours work search requirement (50% of 30)."
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/volunteering-and-claiming-benefits


Let's say you had wanted to volunteer for the London Marathon, the Olympics or Common Wealth games, but had no interest in a job in sports and this volunteering has no connection to your work or skills goals, could the Jobcentre 'coach' block you undertaking this voluntary work?

The ideological danger is that Jobcentres facilitating voluntary work is closely allied to it's very recent history of Forced Labour and the growth of the
the expectation that to obtain paid work requires doing unpaid work, concepts like 'entirely voluntary' are BS in this context.