If you are being asked to take part in a meeting, research project, coproduction process, or consultation, you should expect to be paid for your time. This guide explains what involvement payments are, what rates organisations typically offer, and what you need to know if you are receiving benefits.
This guide is for two audiences: disabled people and community members who are being asked to get involved, and organisations who want to pay people fairly for that involvement. If you want to share your experiences with Difference North East, you can do that too. Use the links below to jump to the section most relevant to you.
- Payment rates: what organisations typically pay
- Tax and benefits: what you need to know
- Involvement is not the same as employment
- Expenses and reimbursement
- Guidance for organisations
- Frequently asked questions
- Useful links
Why involvement payments matter
It is good practice for organisations to offer payment when they ask people to contribute time, skills, and expertise to events, meetings, coproduction processes, and research. Paying people for their involvement supports more equal partnerships between organisations and the people they work with.
The National Institute for Health and Research notes that involvement payments help include people who might not otherwise be able to get involved, for financial or access-related reasons. This widens the pool of people whose experience and knowledge can shape decisions.
Coproduction means everyone contributes as an equal partner. But if only the paid staff leave a meeting with money, that equality is undermined from the start. Paying for involvement is one of the most practical ways to make coproduction real rather than tokenistic. Find out more about what coproduction means and why Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations champion it.
Two questions worth asking about any involvement process:
- If everyone contributes equally to a strategy meeting, but only staff are paid, is that a fair arrangement?
- If a document about disabled people is produced entirely by non-disabled professionals, with disabled people only brought in at the end to check for spelling mistakes, is that really coproduction?
What involvement payments cover
There is no single nationally recognised rate for involvement payments. What an organisation pays will depend on its size and budget, the nature of the activity, and the level of responsibility involved. You should always be told up front what you will be paid and what expenses will be covered.
Involvement payments typically cover activities such as:
- Attending meetings or committees
- Reading documents, proposals, or research and providing feedback
- Analysis or interpretation of information
- Participation in events, workshops, or focus groups
- Facilitating or co-facilitating groups
- Taking part in interviews or candidate shortlisting
Payment rates: what organisations typically offer
The rates below give a realistic picture of what organisations across the public sector and research sector pay for involvement activities. These were correct at the time of publication in 2024.
| Organisation | Payment rates |
|---|---|
| National Institute for Health and Research (NIHR) |
|
| Glasgow University |
|
| Skills for Care | £15 per hour |
| Care Quality Commission (CQC) |
|
| ADASS North East |
|
| The Essex Partnership |
|
Some small organisations and charities may not have a budget for involvement payments. If this is the case, it is reasonable to ask what else they can offer. This might include use of a meeting room or hot-desk, or a spare place on a training course. You are entitled to discuss this in advance and come to an agreement before committing your time.
Tax and benefits: what you need to know
Whether involvement payments affect your tax or benefits depends on your circumstances. The information below is a general guide. Rules around benefits change, so always check the current guidance for your specific situation on the GOV.UK benefits guidance page (opens in a new tab).
Tax
If you are employed or unemployed, involvement payments can be classed as earnings and you may need to declare them. Payments are generally subject to tax and National Insurance if your total taxable income exceeds your annual Personal Allowance. Check your current allowance on the GOV.UK income tax rates page (opens in a new tab).
Benefits
If you receive benefits, you can still earn money from involvement activities. Different benefits have different rules about how much you can earn and whether involvement counts as work. In some cases, involvement can be treated as voluntary activity or permitted work rather than employment. For a broader overview of your rights as a disabled person, see our guide to disability rights and the Equality Act.
Current information on earnings limits for people receiving benefits is on the GOV.UK permitted work guidance page (opens in a new tab).
If a payment offered is higher than your earnings limit, you can ask the organisation for a lower amount that stays within your limit. If you would rather not receive a cash payment at all, ask for a shopping voucher instead. Most organisations that offer involvement payments will have a voucher option. You can also choose to volunteer your time with no payment at all.
Involvement is not the same as employment
If your health or disability affects your ability to work and you are receiving benefits on that basis, it is important to know that involvement activity is not the same as employment. The Department for Work and Pensions has issued guidance to Jobcentre Plus staff making clear that involvement is distinct from work. Recruitment for involvement should not be confused with recruitment for employment.
Jobcentre Plus staff do not always know this. If you are asked about involvement activities by your work coach or Jobcentre Plus, ask the organisation to provide a letter confirming the nature of the activity. The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has letter templates organisations can use for this purpose (opens in a new tab).
Further guidance is available from Disability Rights UK on involvement payments and benefits (opens in a new tab). You may also find our page on being respected and challenging disability discrimination useful.
Benefits are not affected by expenses
If you incur costs as part of your involvement activity, the organisation should reimburse those expenses. Expense reimbursements are separate from involvement payments and do not affect your benefits. If the DWP queries any expense payments you receive, ask the organisation to provide a written breakdown of what was reimbursed and why.
Expenses that organisations should cover include:
- Travel costs to and from meetings or events
- Childcare or carer costs incurred as a result of attending
- Personal assistant costs to enable you to attend
- Admin costs such as telephone charges or postage
Guidance for organisations
If you are an organisation involving disabled people or community members in your work, fair payment is a practical requirement of genuine coproduction, not an optional extra. Here is what good practice looks like.
- Have a clear, written policy for involvement payments before you start recruiting. Our inclusive recruitment guidance can help you reach disabled people when advertising for involvement panels
- Tell people up front exactly what they will be paid and what expenses you will cover
- Offer a voucher alternative for anyone who does not want a cash payment
- Provide a letter for anyone who needs to show the DWP what the involvement payment was for. SCIE has template letters you can adapt. (opens in a new tab)
- Where possible, pay expenses in advance rather than waiting for reimbursement. Upfront costs can be a barrier that prevents people from participating at all.
- Set a specific budget for involvement before your project begins, and treat it as a core project cost rather than an afterthought
- If disabled people are joining your staff or panels, make sure reasonable adjustments are discussed and in place from the start
If you want support developing a coproduction approach within your organisation, Difference North East offers accessibility and inclusion consultancy. We also run disability equality training that covers coproduction and inclusive practice.
Frequently asked questions
What is an involvement payment?
An involvement payment is money paid to a person, usually a disabled person or member of the public, in recognition of the time, skills, and expertise they contribute to meetings, research, coproduction, consultations, or events. It is distinct from a salary or wage and is intended to make participation fair and accessible to people who might otherwise be excluded.
How much should I be paid for involvement activities?
There is no single national rate, but common benchmarks include: the National Institute for Health and Research (NIHR), which pays £25 for one hour with no preparation, £75 for a half-day meeting with preparation, and £150 for a full-day meeting with preparation. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) pays between £126 and £180 per day depending on the level of responsibility. ADASS North East pays £25 per hour. You should always be told the rate before you commit your time.
Do involvement payments affect my benefits?
It depends on which benefits you receive and how much you earn. You can earn money whilst receiving most benefits, up to a limit. In some cases, involvement can be treated as permitted work or voluntary activity rather than employment. Always check the current guidance for your specific benefits on GOV.UK, as rules change. If a payment would put you over your earnings limit, you can ask for a lower amount or request a voucher instead.
Is involvement the same as employment?
No. Involvement is not the same as employment, and the Department for Work and Pensions has issued guidance to Jobcentre Plus staff making this clear. Recruitment for involvement should not be confused with recruitment for employment. If your Jobcentre Plus work coach asks about your involvement activities, you can ask the organisation you are working with to provide a letter confirming the nature of the activity.
Do expense payments affect my benefits?
No. Expense reimbursements (such as travel costs, childcare, personal assistant costs, or admin expenses) are separate from involvement payments and do not affect your benefits. If the Department for Work and Pensions queries any expenses you receive, ask the organisation to provide a written breakdown of what was reimbursed.
Can I ask for a voucher instead of a cash payment?
Yes. Most organisations that offer involvement payments will also offer a voucher alternative, usually a shopping voucher accepted at a wide range of high street shops. If you would rather not receive a cash payment (for example because of the effect on your benefits), you are entitled to ask for a voucher instead. You can also choose to volunteer your time with no payment at all.
Do I need to declare involvement payments to HMRC?
Involvement payments can be classed as earnings and may be subject to tax and National Insurance if your total taxable income exceeds your annual Personal Allowance. If you are employed or self-employed, you may need to declare them. Check your current Personal Allowance and any reporting requirements on GOV.UK.
What are the NIHR involvement payment rates?
The National Institute for Health and Research (NIHR) publishes standard involvement payment rates. As of 2024 these are: £12.50 for a half-hour activity with no preparation; £25 for one hour with no preparation; £50 for an activity with some preparation lasting up to two hours; £75 for a half-day meeting or committee with preparation; £150 for an all-day meeting or panel with preparation; and £300 for an all-day meeting with substantial preparation and additional responsibility such as chairing.
Useful links
- NIHR: Payment guidance for members of the public involved in research (opens in a new tab)
- NIHR: Involvement payments for children and under 16s (opens in a new tab)
- Disability Rights UK: Involvement payments and benefits (opens in a new tab)
- Disability Rights UK: Permitted work (opens in a new tab)
- GOV.UK: Permitted work factsheet (opens in a new tab)
- GOV.UK: Benefits guidance (opens in a new tab)
- SCIE: Letter templates for organisations, for showing the DWP (opens in a new tab)
- Coproduction Collective: Payment and benefits information sheet, PDF (opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed: March 2025. The rules around benefits and earnings limits can change with government policy. Always check the latest guidance on the GOV.UK benefits guidance page (opens in a new tab) for the benefits you receive.