What can I do?

[Dreamer2027]

So to continue getting my universal credit I need to tell my work coach what I can do - Not what I can't do. I can't work in Retail, I can't do cleaning jobs, I can't work with the Elderly, I can't work with Animals, I can't work in cafes, I can't work in a place telephoning customers, I can't do a driving job, I can't do anything to do with Outdoors Gardens etc, I can't wash dishes/work in a kitchen do cooking jobs, I can't work in a warehouse, I can't work in an office at a computer etc .... All reasons due to either physical or Mental Health. I'm stuck I can not think of anything genuinely. My work coach wants a list of what I can do for my next appt or i could lose my universal credit. She does not care at all what I can't do. Any ideas appreciated.

Ok, start with what you can do on this thread. Maybe we can help come up for job types that fit with those to give you some ideas?

Well you can start a coherent thread on Mumsnet and your writing quality is decent so you could do livechat customer support online or email customer support. A lot of companies are moving away from call centres towards livechat/email for customer support these days.

What do you do when you're at home? Maybe that will give you some ideas0

do you qualify for pip?

Same here. I cant do a lot of those things too due to my mental health and autism.
It is really hard. Sadly the work coaches wont try to find the best in you and will just sanction you instead. I read that they have some support for people with disabilities that present barriers to working. It might be worth asking about that.

No they are moving to AI.

Thankyou for replies. I did many years of cleaning mainly in Hotels but I couldn't do that now as I suffer with knee problems and hand problems. I could not work in Retail type jobs or work in a cafe etc as I unfortunately shake. I could not work with the Elderly. I would not be comfortable telephoning customers, I am allergic to animals, I also have a lot of allergies and couldn't be working in kitchens/ washing dishes/ preparing food. I have tried to claim pip but did not get it. I'm not being lazy in saying I'm not looking for work but I really do know I can't do any of them things but my work coach seriously does not care she told me today and she says I need to make a list of what I can do! I just really can't think and thought I'd ask for ideas on here. Thankyou. Sorry I've basically just repeated myself pretty much again I think.

If your self esteem is rock bottom then it will be hard to sell yourself and say what your good points are.

It’s no wonder this country is in such a mess!

What does that mean?
If you are accusing the OP for the ills and debts of the UK then you should kindly go and do one

Advice work via chat or email. Volunteer for CAB or similar and they will give you good training which may lead to something paid opportunities.
You don't say why you can't work with the elderly but what about something like care work which is just companionship, I have a client who does this and she has bad arthiritis but it is mainly sitting with an older person and doing light duties.

If your mental and physical health so bad then it might be worth getting some fit notes in and having an assessment to see if you are capable of work at all.
You will need to see your GP for this and to get it all started.

I would not be comfortable telephoning customers

This sounds promising compared to the other things you've listed.

You haven't said you can't telephone customers, just that you wouldn't be comfortable.

There are plenty of things we're not comfortable with but sometimes it's possible to encourage ourselves out of our comfort zones, with good results.

Supermarket checkout? Office or school admin? Or is there something you’d like to train for like a TA?

Working with children?
Working with Young Adults that have LDs?
Delivering leaflets?

Sorry I'm struggling to think of others.

Is getting a fit note from the GP an option?
Are there any training courses available that wouldn't affect your UC, so you could upskill?

Not just OP of course but there are so many people in the UK claiming benefits because of mental health/autism/neurosensory issues.

I do wonder how it will end as the country can not afford it. I am probably much older than most posters on here and my generation just got on with life.
I know I will get slated but feel quite passionately about this.

@Brunettesmorefun were you having a go at me? I also don't understand your comment. I'm a genuine person and I think other people can see that I've come on here asking for ideas. Do you want me to work in a cafe and tremble serving a customer and spill drinks/food on them for example. I unfortunately suffer with my knees and carpal tunnel syndrome and can not do the cleaning jobs I used to do. I would be a mess working on an Asda check out for example. I'm really pleased to see some people seem to be giving me some helpful replies which I appreciate.

What would you want to do @Dreamer2027
Why can't you work with the elderly?
What about supermarket checkout/tobacco till? Petrol station?

OP has physical health issues too.

A huge barrier to people with ND and MH is employers. They dont employ us.

Why would you be a mess working in Asda check out?

Fully agree, maybe everyone should just say 'I can't work' fund me!

No one does. You have to have evidence

anyway, OP wants to work and is asking what she can do despite the various challenges she has.

Because op has carpal tunnel syndrome which would be made worse by repetitive motions.

The OP can't return to the job she did for many years due to developing health issues, most likely caused by doing those jobs.

I worked in a Jobcentre circa 1997, and we had claimants that had never worked a day in their lives, and were in their 30s then. We had one on the countdown to his retirement, and he'd been signing on for 15 years at that point.

I actually got the job there from signing on, so I'm not looking down at anyone.

So the barriers to you engaging in a number of roles are that you have a range of allergies, shake and have physical problems with your knees and hands. Is there anything else? I’m not asking that to diminish those conditions but because, without a comprehensive list, people will continue to suggest things which are inappropriate.
You said that you couldn’t work with the elderly. What do you mean by that?
You said that you wouldn’t be comfortable telephoning customers. Again, what do you mean by that?
What skills and qualifications do you have? What jobs have you had in the past. You mention cleaning but have you had any other roles?
What sort of things do you enjoy doing?

The jobs which immediately occur to me are admin roles, many of which can be done remotely these days. You are literate and have some IT skills so would be able to do a range of clerical jobs. Are you numerate as well as literate? That would be a bonus in any roles in accounts teams.