The number of unemployed people volunteering for charities has doubled in the last year.

Some 13,000 men and women have used the recession to to give their time to community groups nationwide.

However, organisations revealed several volunteers have been stopped in their tracks by staff in social welfare offices who believe people cannot claim benefits while helping a cause.

Deirdre Garvey of The Wheel, which represents 860 charities, said some deciding officers were not aware of the Department of Social Welfare's own rules.

"The policy is that volunteering is allowed, but not enough people know about that," she said.

Figures show three quarters of community organisations have had a drop in Government funding and public donations in recent months. But the number of people assigned to Volunteer Centres Ireland, which has about 25 centres around the country, soared to 13,000 - including 7,000 Irish people and 6,000 non-nationals.

Elaine Bradley, of Volunteering Ireland, said there were not enough jobs for people who were used to working and wanted to work.

"A lot of people are turning to volunteering for something to do," she said.

The Department of Social and Family Affairs confirmed a person who engaged in voluntary work could continue to be entitled to jobseekers' benefit or allowance under the Voluntary Work Option, provided they were still available for and genuinely seeking work.

A spokeswoman said all staff were kept up-to-date on the scheme by way of circulars that were issued on a regular basis.