Hi all. I was retired from my previous job due to ill health in 2008 mainly because I am unable to write legibly or use a keyboard (can only type using one finger of left hand and I am right handed so it takes forever). I am now in a wheelchair 24/7 can no longer drive and need my food cut up for me if I get to have real food (veggies or vegans stop reading now) like toad in the hole or a lamb chop. I now survive on Tesco microwave meals which only need a spoon to eat. Anyway, I now need to get a job and since I cannot drive a car anymore I have been looking into working from home but I am unsure what to do. The typing jobs tend to specify typing/transcribing speeds of 60+ wpm. Do I go for a job stuffing envelopes? Has anyone found a job working from home you are happy with? I am stumped as to what to do. Any ideas??? Thanks Tracy
Unless you have a specific skill to market working from home is notoriously badly paid and exploitative. With the greatest respect your physical abilities will probably preclude you from most of the envelope stuffing/sewing/assembly type jobs that crop up in this category.
You say that you need a job – what is your benefit situation that makes this seem so crucial. Perhaps this is something that can be explored.
With respect to your typing – I type one handed but when I injured my right hand a few years ago I was stumped for a while. I started using Dragon Naturally Speaking, which not only allowed me to type by speaking but also give voice commands to the computer.
Jane
Hi, I see thay you only got 1 reply and thought, hoped rather, that some folk may have missed your post.
Do you need to work for a financial reason or something else?
Hope you dont mind me asking.
have you claimed all the benefits you could be entitled to?
luv Pollx
Hi, I’m guessing you need a job for financial reasons, sorry if that’s not the case, and I’m also guessing that since you are thinking of working that this isn’t going to impact on any benefits that you currently claim. I suppose you will be in receipt of dla and certainly wotkin won’t change that. you could try setting up your own business from home, you would need to find a skill that you could use, set up your company, advertise, and issue a vat receipt fo any work that you do, and keep records of all your incomings/outgoings. That should be quite easy. Less easy, is what are you going to do. I know someone (someone with limited mobility but not ms) who runs her own ironing business working from home, she seems to do well with this. I also know someone who makes and sells her own jewelry and also someone who makes and sells cards and someone who makes and sells candles, scented beads etc. These people all sell on the Internet and have websites. That would be doable for you. However they all also attend local craft fayres, school fayres, local car boot sales which may be suitable for you. I wonder if you want to just earn a bit of extra pocket money which might work by making something and selling it or you need to earn a significant amount of money. Cheryl:-)
However they all also attend local craft fayres, school fayres, local car boot sales which may be suitable for you. Sorry, that should have said which may NOT be suitable for you. Cheryl:-)
Thanks to everyone for your advice. I need to go back to work because I am deemed fit for work and will lose IB and DLA. I don’t claim anything else. I already have speech to text software but I can’t really see that as being helpfull in a typing/transcribing job since it would make more sense for the person recording/writing to use speech to text themselves wouldn’t it? I don’t know if I could make jewellery or candles because I have very limited use of both hands. I don’t have a particular skill to offer to anyone. I guess I am lucky because my fiancé is incredibly supportive but we would struggle financially when I lose both IB and DLA. He had to reduce his hours at work nearly 2 years ago because my care needs have increased so we were worse off financially to start with. This is all too much to deal with. I can see David Cameron bringing back workhouses or hanging us for having the bloody cheek to be ill. Is this really the 21st century or has the world time warped back 250 years?
Tracy,
I am horrified to read that you say you need to work because you have been deemed ‘fit to work’. Reading your original post. that you are now in a wheel chair full time and you need your food cutting up etc, and your last post saying that your fiance has already had to reduce his hours because your care needs have increased, it is ludicrous that you have been declared fit to work.
You state that you need to work because you will lose your IB and DLA - there is no way in the world that you should lose your DLA - and on what grounds were you found fit for work - if this is the change over from IB to ESA, I can’t believe that they could not have even placed you in the work related activity group, although it sounds like you should be in the support group.
Rather than looking for a suitable job, I would advise you to appeal against the decision that you are ‘fit to work’.
Sorry if I have got this wrong but this just makes my blood boil when genuine people are put through all this stress.
All the very best to you
Dawn
I agree with Dawn,you need to appeal, join the benefitsandworks site, and they will tell you how to appeal,it makes me so angry that people like you,with a genuine need for ESA are made to feel they have to work,because they say so.please dont be forced into doing something you cant possibly do.
jaki xx
Hi Dawn I don’t have the mental energy to fight this. The ConDems are just evil and whatever you do they will win. Society today doesn’t accept imperfection and no one gives a toss anymore so what is the point? Sorry. Tracy
Hi Tracy, again, while I admire your determination and tenacity in trying to look for a job, nothing wrong with you doing that, if you find something you are able to do, I have to say that I agree with the others, that you should appeal the decision. I know you are saying that you don’t have the mental energy to fight and I understand that too, but I think that challenging this should be your first line of attack. I’m afraid that I am not up to date with the benefit system because the only one I claim is dla. Good luck. Cheryl:-)
Hi Tracy
I can well understand you don’t have the energy to fight the decision that you are fit to work, but you are obviously not fit to work.
I agree with what you say about the ConDems totally and that society does not give a toss anymore about those in need and it makes me so so angry how the disabled and vulnerable are being attacked in this way.
Like Cheryl, I am only on DLA (and also a works ill health pension) so am not battling the ESA debarcle - although I was on it in the past, before I had a carer - now my income is apparently above the threshold for ESA, so I don’t have that ‘worry’ anymore.
I do hope the powers that be see sense and realise you are not fit for work.
I wish you all the very best
Dawn
Hi Tracy, I have to agree with the others…you MUST fight to keep your DLA/IB.
It does take strength and determination, I know, as I had to appeal a decision, but I got someone from Age UK to help me. She knew the rights words to use to make it work. They will help you and you dont have to be 60+ to ask. I wasnt.
I read it so often on these boards, about the sterling work and help which is offered by Benefits and Work website. They are nothing to do with the governmewnt, so there`s no need to be frightened about using them.
Go on love. Find the courage to appeal.
luv Pollx
Hello,
I do have genuine sympathy with people like yourselves. ATOS and their bunch of happy friends have deemed that you are fit to go back to work. I often think there are a couple of underlying problems. They make their judgements from what they see on paper. Anyone can go in and see them with a limp and walking stick and say they cannot work. Benefits cost the country an eyewatering sum of money but if a genuine case that is properly presented then you are in a much stronger position.
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Filling out the forms - you must must must get help from someone else who knows you and your illness. Find a friend, relative or neighbour, ask them to fill in the form. It is human nature to make yourself sound less ill than you are. Also take your time. If you say that you can jump through 3 hoops and a fortnight later you say that actually it is 2 then too b****y bad you wrote 3 and 3 it is. Think very carefully about the forms and the answers and keep a copy. See an MS nurse or your local MS centre for help and advice.
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Talk to your doctor or neurologist and explain the problem and what you want. Say it with a smile on your face but say with complete conviction. The specialist has got the notes and has seen your medical condition change.
In case you are wondering I have SPMS and get ESA. It took me and my wife hours to fill in the forms stating the position correctly. I am medfically retired, cannot walk or drive, so it does work.
Good luck,
Patrick
www/aid4disabed.com