fix: preserve uplift denial message

src/app/v/[token]/dispatch/_components/uplift-requests-section.tsx

@@ -96,8 +96,12 @@ function useVendorUpliftActions({
       if (outcome.outcome === "NoApprovalRequired") {
         setInfoMessage("No approval required — the existing NTE already covers this amount.");
       }
-    } catch {
-      setFormError("Unable to request the NTE uplift. Please try again.");
+    } catch (error) {
+      setFormError(
+        error instanceof Error && error.message
+          ? error.message
+          : "Unable to request the NTE uplift. Please try again.",
+      );
     } finally {
       setSubmitting(false);
     }

src/test/app/v/uplift-requests-section.test.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+import { fireEvent, screen, waitFor } from "@testing-library/react";
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+
+import { UpliftRequestsSection } from "@/app/v/[token]/dispatch/_components/uplift-requests-section";
+import { renderWithProviders } from "@/test/test-utils";
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  vi.restoreAllMocks();
+});
+
+describe("UpliftRequestsSection create workflow", () => {
+  it("renders the server denial message when requestUplifts is denied", async () => {
+    const denialMessage = "Your role can't request uplifts on this work order.";
+    const fetchMock = vi.spyOn(globalThis, "fetch").mockResolvedValue(
+      new Response(JSON.stringify({ message: denialMessage }), {
+        status: 403,
+        headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+      }),
+    );
+
+    renderWithProviders(
+      <UpliftRequestsSection
+        token="portal-token"
+        dispatchId={7}
+        currentNte={100}
+        upliftRequests={[]}
+        locked={false}
+        onChanged={vi.fn()}
+        pollDocument={vi.fn(async () => undefined)}
+      />,
+      { withAuth: false },
+    );
+
+    fireEvent.change(screen.getByLabelText("New total NTE"), { target: { value: "100" } });
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Request uplift" }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByRole("alert")).toHaveTextContent(denialMessage));
+    expect(fetchMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.stringMatching(/\/api\/vendor-portal\/dispatches\/7\/uplift-request$/),
+      expect.objectContaining({ method: "POST" }),
+    );
+  });
+});