31. Can we pay volunteers expenses in advance for expensive items?

There have been some problems in the past where volunteers on benefits have been given advance payments (for instance for something that would cost a lot like childcare or a weekly travelcard). The introduction of the Social Security Amendment (Volunteers) Regulations 2001 meant that income support, JSA, and Incapacity Benefit are not endangered if a volunteer receives advance payment for expenses to be incurred in the future. It is still important to keep receipts and records, and the volunteer would have to repay to the organisation any money that was not spent.