34. What is the best way to reimburse expenses?

Most people in receipt of benefits are on very low incomes and could not afford to volunteer if their expenses were not paid, so when you decide how you will pay expenses, try to make sure that you are not creating unnecessary barriers. Many organisations find it easier to reimburse expenses weekly or monthly rather than daily, and some always reimburse by cheque. However, this can create problems for someone on a low income who cannot afford to wait a long time for money to be reimbursed, or for someone without a bank account. If possible, always try to reimburse expenses on the same day, in cash. In particular, Asylum Seekers in receipt of vouchers have very little access to cash, so find it difficult to pay for travel or to go out and buy a sandwich. You might want to consider paying expenses in advance if this is an issue (see FAQ 31). If you are not sure which methods of reimbursement suit people, the easiest way to find out is to ask them.