client on ESA credits only - new claim or supercession?

This has been discussed in the past, but with UC it’s become more than a theoretical issue.  If a client is getting credits only ESA, and due to a change or circs would now meet the criteria for income-related ESA I have always thought of this as a new claim.  However there is an argument that it is a supercession of the existing credits only claim.

Now we are a UC area, what are the chances of ESA superceeding a credits only claim and therefore allowing someone to avoid claiming UC?  Has anyone tried this?

I don’t have a specific client, but I’m thinking of cases where a partner loses their job etc.