Volunteering while unemployed

The Department of Social Protection will not penalise anyone in receipt of job seeker supports for part-time volunteering; it is actually encouraged as it gets you out of the house, keeps your mind stimulated and as a whole is good for you. 

 

However, each individual must still meet the conditions for receiving their unemployment benefit:

 

- You must still be actively and genuinely seeking work.

 

- Your volunteering is an activity that seeks to benefit others (beyond your family) for which you receive no pay (except out-of-pocket expenses).

 

- You should be available to take up work as soon as an opportunity comes your way. Volunteers should be aware that a commitment to full time volunteering may deem you unavailable for work, which may affect your entitlements.

 

Voluntary organisations who involve volunteers in receipt of Social Welfare must have approval from the individual’s local employment exchange before taking on the volunteer. To do this, the organisation must complete a VW1 application form and submit this to their local office of the Department of Social Protection.