Voluntary 'permitted' work

I have been unable to work in paid employment for over twenty years due to severe arthritis, fibromyalgia, asthma and bronchiectasis and other health conditions.

I was getting quite depressed due to my medical conditions and a friend suggested a small amount of voluntary work might be helpful to me. My GP thought this was good idea and I advised the DWP and was told this would be OK. I am on a rota to do one half day every two weeks, ie. 26 half days per year. In the last year I only managed to complete 15 half days due to being too poorly to attend. I have now had a form ESA50 to complete and wonder where on the form (or indeed, if) I should mention this voluntary work. I am on the verge of retiring from it as I am finding it more and more difficult to do, but I have been hanging on as it is the only social contact I have other than being with my family. I am almost sixty.

I am currently wating of the results of a hip arthroscopy and it is possible I will need a new hip. I have alreay been told that I will ultimately need a new knee, but was advised to 'hang on' for as long as I possibly could. I have severe arthritis in my spine and lots of nerve damage (verified by an MRI). I have to do physio every morning and night to clear my lungs through the bronchiectasis, and I won't even go into the effects of the fibromyalgia! I would hate to think I was going to be penialsed for trying to put something back into the community.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Justice

Thank you for the reply Gordon. I have done this work for twelve years and when I notified the benefits people all that time ago they were then called the DSS. I don't know if they will still have a record of it

I have not had to send in 'sick/fit' notes for years and I am more than surprised that I have been sent this ESA50 due to my age.

Do you think I should mention it only if I am called for a medical? There are 186 people there (at various times) who can atest to the problems I have! Sometimes I can't get out of the chair and have to be helped up, I can't open the doors (as they have door knobs not handles) and I have had to go home on occassions due to severe pain/tiredness. They still put up with me though as they know I try my best. I am aware that the time is fast approaching when I will not be able to go at all, but what do I do in the meantime? Would it be predjudicial to me as I am obviously in the process of migrating from IB to ESA and I know that I should be in the support group. Is it likely that they will know that I have tried my best, or will they think that because I have managed to do this tiny little bit that I will be put into the WRAG?

Thanks.