Volunteers can claim lunch costs

The guidance for volunteers on benefits has been withdrawn

Volunteers on benefits will not have to bear the cost of their lunchtime meal following a government u-turn.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had said that the lunches could no longer be claimed as an expense.

However the department has withdrawn the guidance which was contained in a booklet outlining the rules.

Charity Volunteering England, which was prepared to launch a campaign against the move next week, said it was "delighted" at the decision.

'Open access'

Its deputy chief executive Justin Davis-Smith said: "This is great news as it lifts a barrier to the two million volunteers on benefits who were affected by the guidance.

"We're delighted that the DWP has listened to the views of so many in the volunteering movement and reverted to its original position which supports the government's aim of opening up access to volunteering to disadvantaged groups."

The charity said the guidance was a new interpretation of the rules and a move away from a long-established custom of volunteers on benefits being able to claim lunch expenses.

The DWP had said that the cost of lunch was regarded as additional income so could not be claimed by people on benefits.