Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether people claiming legacy benefits face limitations on time they may spend volunteering, whilst they meet the conditions for receiving their payments.

There are no limitations on the amount of time that people claiming legacy benefits (Employment Support Allowance, Income Support and Income Related Jobseekers Allowance) can spend volunteering providing they meet the conditions for receiving their benefit payments, which may include giving up voluntary work to take up paid employment. We appreciate how volunteering can help claimants develop skills necessary to progress into paid employment, as well as boost confidence, and provide more workplace experience to add to their CV.