Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons his Department does not distinguish between those in paid and those in unpaid work when assessing their eligibility for out-of-work benefits; if he will revise his Department's policy in this area; and if he will make a statement.

There are a number of working age benefits and each has slightly different rules. Working age benefits are usually affected by earnings and, depending which benefit is in payment, the amount payable may be affected. If work is unpaid because it is voluntary work, this would, in most cases, not affect the benefit award. If work is unpaid and it is not reasonable for it to be unpaid, the income related benefit rules allow an amount of notional earnings to be assumed.