Template letters to Jobcentre Plus to support volunteers
Volunteers who receive state benefits should inform Jobcentre Plus about their volunteering. However, this is the volunteer's responsibility. The organisation which they volunteer for is not obliged to do anything.
A Jobcentre might sometimes ask claimants for further information about their activities as a volunteer. They might ask a volunteer to complete a form and give information about the volunteering opportunity. Or they might ask for more information about the volunteer's role or expenses. This is why it's a good idea for organisations to develop role descriptions for volunteers and use expenses forms when reimbursing expenses.
It can be helpful if organisations provide volunteers with a letter or similar document explaining that their voluntering activities are within benefits rules.
Feel free to adapt these template letters for your own use:
(A template letter to support a volunteer receiving the new Employment and Support Allowance will be published soon)
