moving from IR ESA (WRAG) to UC LCW

Hi,

I am moving from IR ESA (WRAG), which I claimed before 3 April 2017, to UC LCW.

Long story short, I had chronic fatigue syndrome for many, many years, several decades.

My IR ESA was arbitrarily stopped at the end of 2017, it took almost five years to dispute and win the fight, meanwhile I refused to claim ESA again, against all advice.

My ESA was then fully reinstated after the ICE found many faults. I have been doing permitted work since then. Small stuff, about an hour of work a day trading musical instruments and teaching music, about £ 100-200 a month. Better than nothing. But I am absolutely certain I can't do more than that, a point that I made very clear to the DWP before by showing it a previous tribunal decision when my ESA was again stopped in 2016, which decided I was entitled to ESA with the WRA component.

This was fortunately accepted even lately when the DWP started to make enquiries about my situation.

Now I have some doubts before I move to UC. Should I carry on doing what I have been doing, i.e. 'permitted work' (which it won't be called that, as I understand it 'there's no rules' and it all boils down to how much I earn), or am I better off just 'starting from a clean slate' (supposing that it's even allowed and that there's nothing wrong with that).

My fear is that I would be required to work more and earn more just because I can do a bit of that.

Just my random thoughts. Any thoughts at all? Thank you.

Thank you, David. Everything you wrote made perfect sense.

''UC Work Coaches like claimants to be engaged in some sort of paid work and this should mean that you are called in for " questioning " less frequently than...''

I am glad to become aware of this. In fact, I continue to be absolutely surprised because since my ESA reinstatement I have not had to go to a Jobcentre interview even once, which I am very glad for as I am pretty awkward with people, especially in this type of situation and I prefer to be alone.

Thank you, your insight made me feel more hopeful. I'll now continue to do what I have been doing and try to do even better where possible and improve what I can. Be safe and well.

PS. forgot to mention, along with the fit note etc, it seems my UC has been granted:
You made your Universal Credit claim on 17 January 2026.

We have backdated the start of your claim to 19 December 2025.

''This is because you claimed Universal Credit within 1 month of the deadline on your Migration Notice.

Your first payment for Universal Credit will cover 19 December 2025 to 18 January 2026. This should reach your account around 25 January 2026.''

So confusing.

Should not be medically reassessed instead of having to get a fit note? Since the latter throws it all in my lap, whereas from my point of view it's the DWP who should prove I can work, through a medical reassessment, and then if I disagree I'll request a Mandatory Reconsideration.

Any thoughts? Thank you.

perhaps it's best if I paste what the DWP wrote in regard to the fit note:

''When you applied for Universal Credit we told you that you did not need to provide a fit note. ''.(because I said that I was getting IR ESA)

''We have since found that you have not yet had a Work Capability Assessment outcome for your health condition.'' (who says I haven't? I had before, actually it was decided by a judge that my medical conditions meant I was entitled to ESA with the WRAG).

''A Work Capability Assessment is something we refer you for when you have an ongoing health condition that restricts your ability to work.'' (ok so do I get a new one? by requesting a fit note, it seems to me, implies that I can already work. That doesn't seem right.)

''What this means
You must now get a fit note from your GP or healthcare professional, if you still have a health condition or disability which restricts your ability to work.''.