ESA and occasional work - Advice needed

Hello,

I receive ESA (support group ) and I wanted to enquire about doing occasional work and how this may affect my benefits.

I suffer from various mental health problems and can not cope with regular employment. I would however, like to do occasional work, maybe a few days here and there.

Now, I was thinking about joining an acting agency as this is something I’ve always found enjoyable and therapeutic. The work would be as and when and I would say no long contracts as I wouldn’t be able to cope with this, the reality is, it may be a few days here and there working on a tv commercial maybe.

Now, this is quite good pay so I’m aware that it would be over the permitted work earnings. I’m scared that I would lose my ESA completely and I wouldn’t be able to manage if I did. My mental health would be worse and it would just be a nightmare. I wanted to try and do something occasionally that I liked and hope it may even lead to a brighter future at some point.

My worry is that because the nature of the work is not typical, the DWP could think my mental health doesn’t affect me because of this and they may stop my benefits?

I don’t know who to ask for advice on this. It’s really tricky. Any advice much appreciated. My mental health is very complicated and unpredictable.

Many thanks,