Finding a new job with chronic pain and no skills

[Rainbows89]

I'm new here and any advice anyone can offer would be much appreciated.

I have chronic pelvic and lower abdominal pain which I've had for a number of years but has become worse in the last two. I don't agree with my gps diagnosis and they won't refer me until I've tried taking Amitriptyline for the next few months, but that's another story.

I've been on furlough since March 2020 but it is going to end this month and I'm struggling to find a new job. This job was quite physical and already causing me a lot of pain before first lockdown and I was thinking of quitting back then but my pain has got worse this last year so I can't do a job like that anymore.

I don't have many qualifications or skills and I've worked in cleaning, warehouse and retail jobs for over 10 years but I am not able to do these anymore because of the pain it will cause. I think the only type of work I think I can do would be office/reception based or work from home, but I'm struggling to find a job. I started a temp call centre job a few months ago but found the training really hard and I couldnt keep up so they let me go after a week. I'm dyslexic and really slow at writing and it takes me longer to understand things. I'm really worried the same will happen if I find an office job and I won't be able to keep hold of a job anymore, has really knocked my confidence. In my early 30s and can't afford to go back to college. Feel really stressed out about what I'm going to do.

Has anyone else previously worked in manual work or retail and changed their job because of pain? What did you do?

[Bevvy]

Feel for you. I agree with your thoughts. Office work requires a good level of skills. However there are computer programmes that when added to the computer can aid people with dyslexia.I think best idea would be to talk with people about how to obtain jobs and also additional training to help to get a job. To this end you (ironically) will potentially better off once you become unemployed. This will mean you can access job centres and they should assist you with courses etc.

One thing is have you lost your job? Or just thinking of not returning after furlough ends? Is very important you don’t leave a job voluntarily. Let them sack you or make you redundant. Otherwise leaving a job with no obvious reason will affect your benefits.

Also some college courses are free or almost free for people unemployed. Just be careful not to do too many hours at college because could then be taken as not available for work. Again affecting benefits.

Finally it may be that you are classed as too unwell for work at the moment. Especially if gp will support with sick notes. This may take some of pressure off you to get a job until you are well enough.

[cyberbarn]

I agree about the sick notes (they are actually called fit notes now) from the GP if you are not able to do your job. If the job is starting again after furlough then get the fit note then you can start to look at claiming benefits. If you are unable to work besides Universal Credit you could look at claiming PIP as well.

As for retraining, it is never too late. At age 55 having taken care of my disabled child for 20 years, I figured I was only qualified for unskilled work, and there was no way I could cope with a job on my feet at a supermarket or similar.

So I decided to train for something that I could do for the rest of my life even if my condition meant to much pain and joint degeneration to move around much. I decided to do a PhD!

I have half way through a part-time PhD research degree and I am loving it. I have an amazing supervisor who has had health conditions himself, and also has a disabled child so knows what I am having to go through. And he laughs gentle with me over my dyslexic spelling mistakes! Luckily most software and computers have spell checkers now. But yes, everything takes longer to read too, but luckily I am doing it part-time so I have 8 years to do it!

I recognise that a PhD might be too much if you haven't studied before, but there is an increasing emphasis on life long learning and the government is putting even more money into it because of the people whose jobs are gone because of the pandemic. You could start here to get an idea of courses and colleges.

gov.uk/further-education-co...

It might also be worth asking your GP surgery if they have a social prescriber as they might be able to signpost you to local information.

Good luck, I hope you find something that suits and energises you!

[Bevvy in reply to cyberbarn]

Just to say you can apply for PIP even when working. I worked for a number of years in receipt firstly of DLA and then subsequently PIP.

[Hellytheelephant]

Hi- just to add that it's a good idea to contact your local Citizen's advice who can help you with benefit claims etc.

Good luck x

[Klutzy]

Sorry you’re having such a difficult time. Can you do something like day care, customer service or sales? I’m not in the UK, but here in the US, there are entry level sales and customer service job. Some work from home and they may like your in-person contact experience when you did retail work. Best of luck!