Help please - sudden disability

[Crazierthanye]

Hi - I NEED to work, I WANT to work

All my qualifications are hands on beauty related and that’s what I built my career on, when my hands wouldn’t let me do that I landed a job as a care worker and I LOVE it - more health rubbish hit and it’s nerve damage - hands not too severe, I can type and it’s fine, more strikes with fine motor or weight as I was never offered physio after carpal tunnel surgery - led to believe I could crack on doing beauty after 12 months.

Didn’t happen, landed a job as a care worker, LOVED it!

Now my right leg (RIGHT leg, so can’t even drive) would appear to have nerve damage that has got somewhat better but I need a stick (walker if I’m tired) and waiting for aids and adaptations to be fitted to my home.
I’ve gone from caring to needing care.
I’ve applied for PIP - doubtful I’ll get it though the way things are and it wouldn’t replace a wage.
DH is doing everything to keep us swimming but I need an income.

I'm looking for a unicorn, WFH no travel, people person, little bit of admin and advertising but self taught from my beauty business, but no proper qualifications or experience in an office role.

Has anyone got any recommendations? Have I got any chance? Or will I soon be looking at an IVA or similar and probably squishing in with family cos we’re so far behind on our social housing rent?

(Aware of benefits, when we thought the nerve thing with my leg would sort itself we stupidly decided to just get by even though really we were just getting by before it happened)

Thank you

where do you live OP? I live semi rurally and work as a clerk/finance officer for Parish Councils, the pay isn’t brilliant but it’s home based, completely flexible in hours and simple admin/finance stuff. I work for a few local villages, paid between 15.50 and £17 per hour. The only time I have to leave home for work is to attend one meeting per month for each council. If you can type and you have admin skills then you can do it. Even if you live in a town then you can look at nearby villages, town clerks tend to be more office based so you definitely want to look at villages. Failing that I have also worked from home self employed as a VA (virtual assistant), like a PA but for small companies that don’t have the resources to employ someone or the facilities for an office. I have worked for electricians/saddle fitters/independant HR consultants/independent FA over the years. I used to charge £25 an hour to do that, but it can be inconsistent, there are however some
companies that will employ you at a lower rate and give you more regular work. Another is transcribing, you can buy software that assists you greatly so ends up being more of a proof reading task if the recording you are sent is clear, again I used to charge £25 per hour. There’s loads of stuff you can do at home with good admin skills. I have been working in various home based roles since my children were little as I always wanted to be there for them as my main focus, I literally have to turn work away sometimes as I get so busy.

@Crazierthanye not quite what you asked but have you looked at Access to Work funding https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work This could help broaden what you can do.

I’m semi rural/rural - thank you so much I’ll go down the Google hole now searching up every idea you’ve kindly taken the time to give me - I’d be more than happy with minimum wage if it was full time - seriously, you may have just helped me to not do something stupid so I’m not a burden on my DH!

Best of luck to you OP I hope you find something that suits you xx

I always recommend junior Procurement roles in this sort of situation too. Not all will be WFH but in my team even junior buyers / purchasing admin roles are remote working with the option to attend office if staff want. Junior roles don't need a degree just good communication and interpersonal skills.

I’ve never heard of this, I’ll ask on the UC app about it, thank you!

Thank you - I’ve just jotted this onto my list to search up today too!

Maybe teaching English as a foreign language? Tutoring roles are often all online.

Have a look at your local council, often lots of flexible WFH admin type jobs, Good luck!

OP, you can drive with use of one leg. There are adaptations and hand controls available either by direct purchase or through the Motability scheme. PM your county or rough area and I'll suggest where you can get a demo. You can also hire such vehicles for occasional use.

Content creation for web sites is always in demand and you have multiple skills to talk about.

Alot of customer service/call centres have gone remote x

Given that you are needing to break into an area of work that you have little experience of, combined with wanting work from home, to be absolutely honest, I think you may struggle. Can I suggest https://www.scope.org.uk/employment-services/support-to-work - they may be able to advise on training or support, and/or signpost you to local schemes that can help.

PS you may not be aware but there is also a section specifically for people with disabilities on the site - we can often give advice or support on a range of things.

Thank you 🙏