Is such volunteering considered to be a paid job that prevents you from receiving unemployment benefits?

Q) Hello, I am signing up for unemployment benefits, and right now I am volunteering at our Town Hall. I know that generally when receiving unemployment benefits, one can still be volunteering. However in our town hall, when you’re volunteering 100hr or more anually, they reduce your property tax by 10%. Is such volunteering considered to be a paid job that prevents you from receiving unemployment benefits?

A) Volunteering generally does not qualify as paid work and should not affect your eligibility for unemployment benefits. However, it’s important to note that the rules and regulations around unemployment benefits can vary depending on the state or country where you reside. So it’s best to check with your local unemployment office to get the most accurate information.

That being said, it’s important to report any income you receive, whether it’s from paid work or volunteering, to your local unemployment office. This is because unemployment benefits are typically designed to provide temporary financial assistance to individuals who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own and are actively seeking employment.

If you do receive income while receiving unemployment benefits, the amount you receive may be reduced or offset by your earnings. However, there are typically some exemptions and allowances for small amounts of income, so it’s best to check with your local unemployment office to see how your specific situation will be affected.

Sometimes It depends on the state you live in and the specific circumstances of your volunteer work. In general, however, volunteering is not considered to be a paid job and should not prevent you from receiving unemployment benefits.

However, there are some exceptions. For example, if you are volunteering for a for-profit organization and you are receiving any kind of compensation, this may be considered to be a paid job and could prevent you from receiving unemployment benefits. Additionally, if your volunteer work is taking up a significant amount of time and preventing you from looking for a paid job, this could also affect your eligibility for unemployment benefits.

If you are unsure about whether your volunteer work will affect your eligibility for unemployment benefits, you should contact your state’s unemployment office for more information.

According to the Department Of Labor:
Volunteer activities are not only a way to serve your community, but can also be a successful strategy as part of your reemployment plan. Under Employment Security law, you must be able to work and available for full-time work. While volunteering you must continue to make an active and earnest search for work. You can be considered available for work while performing volunteer activities:
If you are willing to stop the volunteer activity upon an offer of suitable work; OR
Providing the volunteer activity does not occur during customary work hours for the type of work you are seeking.
Your unemployment benefits could be denied if you refuse an interview because it interferes with your volunteer activities.
Source: https://molabor.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/282928-can-volunteer-activities-affect-my-unemployment-be