1. Income related state benefits and time banking

Earning time credits is counted as non-renumerative work and does not affect a person’s entitlement to income-related state benefits. This decision was announced by the Minister of State, Mr Paul Boateng during the Commons Debate : June 15, 2000:

“I am pleased to announce today that, following legal advice, the Department of Social Security will provide new local guidance, advising that no account be taken of time credits earned in time exchange schemes when calculating income-related benefits” 

The Minister of State: Mr Paul Boateng: Commons Debate: June 15 2000

2. For participants on incapacity benefit

The situation is slightly different for participants on incapacity benefit because in general, time banking is classed as non-renumerative work rather than volunteering. 

• For this reason the ‘permitted work rules’ apply and if the person’s involvement with the time bank do not come within these rules, the incapacity status of the participants will be affected.
• There have been some local differences in how this is administered and TBUK recommends that time brokers contact their local benefits office and explain their work to them.

3. Time banking & tax exemption
Community Time Bank currencies are not a taxable income.  Time Banks only record the time ‘exchanged’ between participants of the scheme.  Time credits cannot ‘buy’ goods or retail services.  Time credits have no market or cash/equivalent value.

The Department of Works and Pensions ‘Time Exchange’ guidance bulletin states:

“It must be emphasized that for the purposes of existing legislation and this guidance, in a ‘Time Exchange’ scheme, Time Credits cannot be exchanged for goods or services or converted into alternative currency.” (DWP)

On June 15th 2000, whilst answering a question on ‘Time Exchange Schemes’ (Time Banks), Angela Eagle - the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security - stated:  “Time credits derived from participation in a Time Exchange Scheme, such as Fair Shares, do not constitute earnings.”  (Hansard)