Rules on volunteering while on benefits clarified

The UWV benefits agency is keen to ensure people claiming unemployment benefit (ww) are not doing the work of paid employees.

However, the rules have been unclear.

Social affairs minister Lodewijk Asscher has now clarified the rules.

Volunteers will be able to work for sports clubs and festivals, for instance, so long as the work they are doing is unpaid.

Confusion

In the past, there was confusion because the UWV took a national view, but they will now check with the organisation or club concerned to see if the volunteer is indeed doing unpaid work.

Clarity is essential because the government’s new participation law will require welfare (bijstand) claimants to give something back to society in return for benefits.