Schemes to help you find work

If you have not worked for a long period of time, it can be a good idea to try voluntary or part-time work to regain your confidence and build up your skills.

Voluntary work is work that you do for someone without expecting to be paid, or for a charity or voluntary organisation. You are allowed to do voluntary work if you get Income Support, Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance or other incapacity- related benefit as long as you are not working for your:

• parent (in-law or step-parent)
  
• son or daughter (in-law or step) 
  
• partner of the above.
  

You must not be paid for your work but you can claim expenses such as travel. There is no limit on the number of hours you can volunteer.

If you have tried voluntary work and found it rewarding, you may want to think about getting a part-time job. This need not affect the amount of benefits you receive.

If you claim Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance, you can continue to claim these while working. However, starting a job may suggest that your care or mobility needs have changed and your benefit entitlement could be reconsidered.

If you claim Incapacity Benefit Income Support, Housing Tax Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, you can earn a maximum of £20 a week for as long as you want. This is known as the permitted work lower limit.

In April 2005, if you worked for less than 26 weeks, you could earn up to £78.00 a week. You must not work more than 16 hours a week. This is known as the permitted work higher limit. You must also tell the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) that you have started work within 6 weeks of doing so.

Although the work that falls into these categories above is allowed, it may not be
ignored completely. The sort of activities or tasks you are able to do, whether they are connected with the work or not, could not be taken into account when deciding whether you pass the incapacity assessment. When you start work the decision maker may, in some cases, decide to refer your case to a DWP doctor for an opinion and you may find yourself subject to another medical examination.

If you get Income Support on the grounds of incapacity for work, you may do permitted work of less than 16 hours or other exempt work. However, if your earnings increase significantly or you work over 16 hours a week your Income Support may stop. Your entitlement to help with prescriptions will automatically end. If you claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit these may be reduced.