Voluntary work and ESA/PIP

Hi.

I am on ESA (support group) and PIP. I wish to start some voluntary work, just a couple of hours a week, maybe building up to 4/5 hours.

I went to the CAB recently and I was advised very clearly that I do not need to inform the DWP of voluntary work. However, having done some research online, this does not seem to be the case. Can you confirm either way please?

In addition, I am scared that declaring voluntary work could trigger a review of my benefits. Is this likely?

And just a quick question for the future.... I am considering that one day I might do some "permitted work". I know I need to declare this. But could this cause my benefits to be reassessed? I am scared they will consider that being able to work a few hours a week means I am better than I am (my condition is variable and whilst I may be able to do a small amount of work at times of the day, I still experience worsening of symptoms in parts of the day).

I really want to do something useful and make a difference somewhere, but worry about the impact both on my benefits now, and at future reviews, because in reality, I am unlikely to be able to work properly for the foreseeable future.

Thank you in advance.

Thank you very much for your reply. It is really appreciated.

I have googled the definition of voluntary work for the DWP and cannot find anything helpful. Are you able to tell me any more specifics about how they define it please?

Its not for a charity, but a council funded service that takes on volunteers in order to provide a specific part of the service. If there are no volunteers, then that part of the service does not run at all, and so its not something that a paid employee could do instead. I am hoping this will be enough for it to be classed as voluntary rather than "unpaid". They have a dedicated "volunteer's coordinator" who deals with all the volunteers.

My ESA was awarded on the basis of the special rule about not being able to do things repeatedly, reliably etc, and the voluntary work does fit in with that because it is for only two hours once a week and would be followed by rest. So I am hoping that should be okay too.

Thank you again for your help.

Thanks again.

Yes sorry, you are right, it was regulation 35 that awarded me ESA: the rule about work causing risk to my health.

And work certainly would cause a deterioration in my health. But I do think I could now manage a couple of hours a week of low-stress voluntary work, with rest either side. It would still cause a worsening of symptoms and I would be sure to inform the DWP that this is the case. I am saddened that a small amount of voluntary work would be considered to oppose this.

I will certainly have to reassess. I know that if I was put in the WRAG group or tried to work, then I certainly would have a severe relapse, and I cannot risk my health that way.

Thank you again for such clear and helpful advice.