Voluntary work and social welfare payments
Introduction
Voluntary work is a good way to keep active, learn new skills and get involved in your local community. You may do some unpaid work as a volunteer and keep your social welfare payment. However, you must continue to meet all the conditions attached to your payment.
Your Social Welfare Local Office or the section paying your social welfare payment will usually decide whether you can keep your social welfare payment and work as a volunteer.
Disability payments
Usually, you get a disability payment because you cannot work. If you are getting Disability Allowance, Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension you must get permission to work as a volunteer. You must apply to the section that pays your social welfare payment before starting any voluntary work.
If you are getting Invalidity Pension you cannot do more than 19.5 hours of voluntary work per week. If you are getting Illness Benefit or Disability Allowance, there is no limit on the number of hours per week you can work unpaid as a volunteer.
Carer’s payments
To qualify for a carer’s payment you must be providing full time care. If you are getting Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Benefit, you can do a maximum of 15 hours per week of voluntary work. Before you start working as a volunteer, you must get permission from the Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Benefit section in the Department of Social Protection.
Jobseeker’s payments
To get Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit you must be available and looking for work. If you want to do voluntary work, you must first get permission from a Deciding Officer at your Social Welfare Local Office. You must continue to satisfy the conditions of your jobseeker’s payment.
A number of factors are taken into account by a Deciding Officer in determining whether the work involved is voluntary, these include:
- The aims and standing of the voluntary organisation (they can be national or local voluntary groups)
- The type of work involved
- The weekly number of hours worked.
Examples of unpaid voluntary work a jobseeker may do include assisting youth clubs, care groups, sports groups, and local residents associations.
If you want to do voluntary work and continue to get Jobseeker’s Allowance or Jobseeker’s Benefit, you must apply under the voluntary work option before you start any voluntary work. To apply, fill in application form (VW1), which is available from your Social Welfare Local Office.
Other social welfare payments
If you are getting one of the payments listed below, there are no restrictions on the number of hours or type of unpaid work you may do. In addition, you don’t need prior permission to do voluntary work.
- State Pension (Contributory)
- State Pension (Non-Contributory)
- State Pension (Transition)
- Widow’s/Widower’s/Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension
- Widow’s/Widower’s/Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension
- Guardian's Payment (Contributory)
- Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory)
- Blind Pension
- One-Parent Family Payment (OFP)
- Farm Assist
- Maternity Benefit
- Adoptive Benefit
- Health and Safety Benefit
Language
Related Documents
- Half-rate Carer's Allowance
Half-rate Carer's Allowance is payable with certain other social welfare payments provided you meet the qualifying criteria. Find out how to qualify for half-rate Carer's Allowance. - Fuel Allowance
The National Fuel Scheme provides an allowance to low-income households that are unable to meet their heating needs. - Household Budget Scheme
The Household Budget Scheme aims to help those getting certain social welfare payments to spread the cost of household bills throughout the year. Find out if you qualify and how to apply.
Contact Us
If you have a question relating to this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0761 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm) or you can visit your local Citizens Information Centre.