Declaring Volunteer Work

Hello all,

I am in ESA Support group, contribution based and get DLA care and mobility. I also have a support worker.

I have been doing volunteering for a while now and did not realise you had to declare it. Now that I know, I am petrified of doing so, what they will say, and getting taken off ESA altogether!?!

The hours I do depend on how ill I am, it could be 1 hour, but never more than 6, and these always leave me very fatigued and I am in pain all the time from having multiple chronic health conditions, including ME, Fibromyalgia and Ehlers Danlos. It is mostly home based admin stuff that you could do in your pyjamas ( ) like Facebook, phone calls, co-ordinating rest of the group, etc, but there are occassional meetings which we have to go to as representatives, but I usually get driven to those. We also hold our own monthly ones which I go to usually, but again, get driven. I don't get paid, just expenses.

These activities place a tremendous strain on my health. My GP knows about my volunteer work and fully supports it, but knows I cannot work in a regular job, she is wonderfully supportive.

I have many letters off consultants to prove my case for my 12 medical conditions and a 3 page presciption list...I spend my life at hospital appointments it seems! What I said on my ESA form still stands.

Am I daft for being scared stiff of telling them of my volunteer work? Should I tell them over the phone, or talk to a Disability Employment Advisor in person? Will there be any penalties for not declaring it earlier?

Thank you very much for any advice and for reading this

zebby wrote: Hello all,

I am in ESA Support group, contribution based and get DLA care and mobility. I also have a support worker.

I have been doing volunteering for a while now and did not realise you had to declare it. Now that I know, I am petrified of doing so, what they will say, and getting taken off ESA altogether!?!

The hours I do depend on how ill I am, it could be 1 hour, but never more than 6, and these always leave me very fatigued and I am in pain all the time from having multiple chronic health conditions, including ME, Fibromyalgia and Ehlers Danlos. It is mostly home based admin stuff that you could do in your pyjamas ( ) like Facebook, phone calls, co-ordinating rest of the group, etc, but there are occassional meetings which we have to go to as representatives, but I usually get driven to those. We also hold our own monthly ones which I go to usually, but again, get driven. I don't get paid, just expenses.

These activities place a tremendous strain on my health. My GP knows about my volunteer work and fully supports it, but knows I cannot work in a regular job, she is wonderfully supportive.

I have many letters off consultants to prove my case for my 12 medical conditions and a 3 page presciption list...I spend my life at hospital appointments it seems! What I said on my ESA form still stands.

Am I daft for being scared stiff of telling them of my volunteer work? Should I tell them over the phone, or talk to a Disability Employment Advisor in person? Will there be any penalties for not declaring it earlier?

Thank you very much for any advice and for reading this

Hi z,

Permitted Work is allowed whilst in receipt of ESA.

However, only the DWP can decide whether any work/voluntary work that you may do, can be classed as permitted work.

See : Permitted Work

&

Work for people living with disability or health conditions.

Once The DWP are made aware of any work that you may do, it may be taken into account when assessing/reassessing your qualification for The WRAG or SG of ESA.

You should also be aware that if any of the duties actions involved in any such work were in direct contradiction of existing DLA or ESA awards, that it could have an adverse effect on said awards.

I would advise that you discuss this with your support worker, and to inform the DWP in writing, if that is what you intend to do.

Sending Documents to the DWP or ATOS

bro58

Thank you very much