ENGLISH NATURE - Volunteers

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Welfare benefits

Volunteering may affect any entitlement to Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) and Incapacity Benefit unless you follow a few basic rules for good practice. If you are unsure about how your voluntary role may affect your benefits you should contact the relevant local office (Benefits Agency for Incapacity Benefit or Employment Service for JSA). Your English Nature Area Team should also be able to offer help and support.

Jobseekers Allowance

There is no maximum limit on the amount of voluntary work you can complete whilst claiming JSA - provided that you are available for and actively seeking work and that you do not receive more than your out-of-pocket expenses.

Incapacity Benefit

Volunteering does not call into question any entitlement for Incapacity Benefit. You should tell the Benefits Agency and await written confirmation before you begin any placement. The Agency may wish to contact your English Nature Area Team to confirm any of the details for the placement - such as the likely number of hours or the physical nature of the role.

There is no upper limit on voluntary hours for a person claiming Incapacity Benefit.

What does this mean for volunteers with English Nature?

Volunteers with English Nature are not required to provide any minimum amount of commitment, have no obligation to remain a volunteer for any length of time and do not receive more than their out-of-pocket expenses. If you run in to problems with either the Employment Service or Benefits Agency because of your involvement as a volunteer, you can ask for support from your Area Team.

Information for volunteers

The Employment Service/Benefits Agency produces the following leaflets:

		WK 4 - Financial help if you are working or doing voluntary work
		JSAL7 (Rev) Jobseeker’s Allowance. Voluntary work when you’re unemployed and it needn’t affect your benefits!

English Nature is not able to provide copies of these leaflets - please contact the Employment Service or Benefits Agency direct.