Voluntary work, ESA and mh problems

Thinking of going back to CAB as a volunteer. Am on ESA, review date April 2012. Would I be jeopardising my ESA, as my condition may be seen as improved? I presume I will need to inform the DWP if I volunteer?

Best!
pikelet

You can work at the CAB as a volunteer whilst on ESA. However, you will need to consider practicalities.

Will you be expecting of yourself that you can do things which you know you can't? Do take care.

Secondly, if your award of ESA relies on points that are contraindicated by the work you do, for example if you got points for poor concentration but now you intend to do work that relies on a lot of concentration, you need to consider whether there has been a material change in your circumstances that you should notify the DWP about.

So, some thinking for you to do. If you do go back, then good luck. CABx need volunteers more than ever in this climate.

Finally, you are right in thinking that you will need to notify the DWP if you volunteer. Write to your BDC telling them what work you will be doing, how many hours, where and who for. I didn't tell them all this in my first letter about voluntary work and the exchange of letters between myself and the DWP was protracted.

Doing voluntary work shouldn't affect your ESA entitlement, as long as you inform the DWP of the voluntary work which is your intention.

However, my personal opinion is that if a claimant is receiving sickness benefits such as IB and ESA, there is a significant risk especially in the current uncertain climate, that the DWP may take a negative view and decide that the voluntary work is an indication that your health condition has improved. As such, if there is any risk attached to continuing benefit entitlement, a claimant should think very carefully about commencing/continuing voluntary work, as if it is a factor in a decision to terminate benefit, it may be difficult to appeal the decision or reclaim the benefit.

Further information can be obtained from the guide entitled "Caution! It May Not Count as Voluntary Work" in the work resources section HERE.

How depressing!

Volunteering would improve my mental health, but if past history is anything to go on, work would wreck it again. unless very very flexible and part time.

May well sit it out till ESA(CB) ends. Thankfully I've got enough to last out till state pension age.

Best!
pikelet

Hi Pikelet

From personal experience, voluntary work can be detrimental to a benefit appeal and used as evidence against you.

Many people claiming IB or ESA are capable of doing a bit of voluntary work that may even help improve their health and prospects of getting back to work. Unfortunately, depending on the nature of the work and disability, the DWP will be quick to highlight it in an appeal, and tribunals are required to consider it, sometimes quite loosely, to draw conclusions about the claimants ability.

Regards

Derek

I submitted my post before reading yours.

I agree with you, it is depressing!