New government rules have come into force which aim to reinforce the freedom to work and volunteer for people who receive welfare benefits.

The “right to try” regulations have been created by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to strengthen benefits claimants’ ability to volunteer without this automatically triggering a reassessment of their claims. It stresses that these regulations make it clear that taking part in volunteering will not automatically lead to a reassessment of benefits; however, starting a volunteering role will not stop a previously planned reassessment from taking place.

These regulations apply to people who receive Universal Credit, amongst other benefits. People have been advised to contact the DWP regarding if and how “right to try” applies to their benefits.

For further information, including a full list of benefits which may apply, please visit the dedicated page on the UK government website (linked for your convenience).