Setting up Charity on UC

JB2023
JB2023 Online Community Member Posts: 14 Connected
edited September 2025 in Universal Credit (UC)

Hi everyone,

I’m currently on Universal Credit with LCWRA and am in the support group New Style ESA as I’m disabled. I also have a disabled son, and I’m hoping to set up a charity in his name to support other children and families with the same disability.

I just want to check how this would affect my UC.

  • I won’t be paying myself any money.
  • All fundraising and grants will go straight into a separate charity bank account that I personally cannot withdraw from.
  • The trustees will be taking on most of the legal and practical responsibility.
  • My role will just be helping to get the charity up and running, doing small tasks for the trustees when I’m able to (around 4 hours a week max if I can manage it).

Because I’m not earning anything from it and it’s for a registered charity, am I right in thinking I don’t need to report this to UC? 

the charity income won’t effect my universal credit will it. 

I’ll be founder and on the board of trustees. 

Also how would this affect my ESA

Thanks

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Comments

  • Holly_Scope
    Holly_Scope Posts: 4,658 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Hi @JB2023, what a wonderful thing to do. I'll be honest, I'm a bit stumped by this as its such a rare situation. I'd like to think that with it being totally separate you'd be ok however it might be worth running this passed DWP themselves with it being something very uncommon, I'm not sure we'll have anybody who has done this before that can advise/support.

    I'd love to know the outcome though, if you're happy to share this. And I wish you all the best with the Charity ☺️

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