Free Lunch for Volunteers

Meg Hillier has welcomed the Government’s decision to allow volunteers to have a free lunch.

Labour’s Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, John Hutton announced that new rules will mean people on benefits who volunteer will no longer have to bear the cost of their meals.

Unlike childcare costs and special clothing, meal time costs have never been an expense that could be disregarded for benefits purposes when an individual is volunteering.

The change will mean that in future, meals will be treated as an expense that volunteers can claim back. Previously, they were expected to meet the cost of meals out of their benefits.

Meg Hillier said. “This is common sense. It was crazy that volunteers were at risk of being penalised for doing the right thing. We do not want a situation where individuals are put off from volunteering because they can not afford to buy something to eat. When I met recently with people with mental health problems at Hackney Mind they highlighted the value of voluntary work in helping get back to paid work.