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3 questions on ESA to UC migration
- AR0000
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2 months 6 hours ago #299827 by AR0000
3 questions on ESA to UC migration was created by AR0000
Hi,
• I am in the ESA Support Group. Will I be required to attend an in-person meeting or assessment after applying for UC?
• Although I am in the Support Group, I am registered with the HMRC as self-employed as I have a done a little bit of freelance work while claiming ESA, under the Permitted Work allowance. In 2024 this amounted to maybe 15 hours work total, and my earnings were from it were under £1000. I haven’t done any of this in 2025. Do I need to put down that I am self-employed on the UC form?
• I was paid around £20 000 in back-payments when I was finally awarded ESA, of which I have £11 000 left, which I put into an ISA. Do I need to declare this as an ISA or can I just put it in the ‘Backpayments’ section?
Many thanks for your help
• I am in the ESA Support Group. Will I be required to attend an in-person meeting or assessment after applying for UC?
• Although I am in the Support Group, I am registered with the HMRC as self-employed as I have a done a little bit of freelance work while claiming ESA, under the Permitted Work allowance. In 2024 this amounted to maybe 15 hours work total, and my earnings were from it were under £1000. I haven’t done any of this in 2025. Do I need to put down that I am self-employed on the UC form?
• I was paid around £20 000 in back-payments when I was finally awarded ESA, of which I have £11 000 left, which I put into an ISA. Do I need to declare this as an ISA or can I just put it in the ‘Backpayments’ section?
Many thanks for your help
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- David
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2 months 6 hours ago #299830 by David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by David on topic 3 questions on ESA to UC migration
Hi AR0000
To answer your questions-
If a Work Coach asks you to commute to the Jobcentre as you are in the Support Group you can decline the invitation without risking a sanction and ask for a reasonable adjustment according to your health needs.
It depends on the exact text of the question. If you are going to report any self employed income to HMRC in the future then you will also need to declare it to UC.
Yes it will go in the Backpayments section. The length of the disregard depends on the reason for the backpayment eg official error.
David
To answer your questions-
If a Work Coach asks you to commute to the Jobcentre as you are in the Support Group you can decline the invitation without risking a sanction and ask for a reasonable adjustment according to your health needs.
It depends on the exact text of the question. If you are going to report any self employed income to HMRC in the future then you will also need to declare it to UC.
Yes it will go in the Backpayments section. The length of the disregard depends on the reason for the backpayment eg official error.
David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- AR0000
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1 month 4 weeks ago #299933 by AR0000
Replied by AR0000 on topic 3 questions on ESA to UC migration
Thank you so much for your replies David. It's in the 'work and earnings' section 'What is your current work status?'. One thing that's complicated is that as my self-employed payments have come from a client abroad I need to declare myself to the HMRC for a tax residency certificate, even though the amount I earn is under the usual threshold for declaring. I will add a note about this in the application, but I am not sure whether to select 'unemployed' or 'self-employed'.
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1 month 4 weeks ago #299937 by David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by David on topic 3 questions on ESA to UC migration
Hi AR0000
If you get paid as self employed person that is to say you don't have a contract of employment then you need to declare that to UC, regardless of the amount and where in the world your client lives.
Hope this helps.
David
If you get paid as self employed person that is to say you don't have a contract of employment then you need to declare that to UC, regardless of the amount and where in the world your client lives.
Hope this helps.
David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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