Hi All
Client, in receipt of means-tested benefits, wishing to become involved in local LETS scheme. (I cut your grass, and in return you paint my hall etc).
I'm aware of the reg that says that if you do work that it would be reasonable for you to be paid for, you will be treated as having that income.
Is there any exemption for this type of scheme that I am missing..?

Thanks
Linus

This sounds like what I know as 'Time-Banking' - a swapping of skills within a local community where time is the currency rather than money. If you go to www.timebanking.org and look under FAQ there's a good explanation of how it might, or might not affect your benefits.

As far as I can understand, time banking seems to have been classifed as 'non-renumerative work' rather than volunteering. As 'time credits' have no monetary value they can't be classed as income or treated as expenses, but being involved in a TimeBank can be classed as time spent working/being active, so people might need to be aware of how this might impact on their Jobseekers agreement, or their fitness to work.

Good luck!