What jobs would work, post stroke... memory/vision issues

Getting active after stroke
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Hello

I’ve been “recovering” from my stroke for a billion years now, it was in 2010, but despite only claiming Universal Credit since 2020, I’ve never been accepted for Capability to Work or PIP, so I will have to find work again. I’ve tried to learn things more, ways to remember, but it flops a little. I’m nervouse going to places, no point taking public transport anywhere (I forget why I’m going, so no point paying £3+ for a tube trip one way to then turn around before I’m lost).

But I’m unable to change anything. Universal Credit are wanting me to go back to work (several years of pushing me back and forth, with PIP refused over and over. Currently on Capability to Work, legal case approaching, but no confidence with it. So assume I’ll not get the LCWRA, and will lose the Capability to wrok, so have to find work next year)

I’m not sure how to even start. Universal Credit signed me up for something called Shaw, which was meant to help with all that, and prepare me for work etc… and sort applications. But I had one appointment with them, then the lady said I wasn’t suitable for it. So now Universal Credit are suggesting I do some assisted work with Shaw (…) and that I should be spending 35 hours a week preparing for applying for work.

What work is something I could go for? I can’t drive (and have slight limited sight issues so wouldn’t be allowed a licence anymore anyway even if I did), I forget where I’m going - let alone what to do when I get there.

I am fine working stacking shelves in a supermarket (if it’s near me), except I can;t remember where shelves are, and would forget what I had to do with stuff… or might put it down and forget where i left it, etc etc. So I’m genuinely not sure shelf stacking works. What other jobs can I do?

I’ve got too long to wait for pension, so I need to find a new job to do for 20+ years. I want to suggest something, Universal Credit doesn’t help me with that (neither do doctors) so what can I work at…

I live in London. There must be stuff to do, which I can do. I am not blind, but have areas of vision which are blocked (I don’t see any thing blocking my view, my brain just patches whats on the left and whats on the right and fills in the middle, but I can’t actually see it, so writing/typing often flops a little/lot. If “spell check” can’t assist, errors are all over the place lol)

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Depending on what kind of income you need, you could work from home, selling on eBay/Vinted/Etsy or teaching English to multilingual learners. These things take some preparation but I am to understand they can be decent little money earners if well planned.

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Have you been assessed by the memory clinic? I think that’s your next port of call,

Lorraine

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Oh if only it was that easy, I’ve actually had stuff listed on eBay (do BIN rather than auctions) and I’m clearly too expensive for people, average maybe 6 things a year :grimacing:

Trying to sell things on Olio too (usually free stuff but now you can sell things) and have done better than eBay, but still it’s maybe £40 a year :laughing:

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Never even heard of one of those (I don’t think, ironically considering the topic lol) How do you link to one of those?

GP hasn’t mentioned that, they just referred me to the doc to look into things, who were done in 2 appointments 10 months apart. Then letter saying I had a stroke bla bla it had these things bla bla…some medical terms… And done.

Do you sign up to a memory clinic by GP or independently?

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You need to be tested at the memory clinic. I’m not sure if you can self refer but I don’t really think so. But your gp certainly can. And I’m surprised your gp has not referred you if only to help you apply for things like PIP etc. If your short term memory is still so bad, you are basically unemployable because you would be a risk for many employers.

You really need to have a sit down discussion about this with your gp and how you are being forced into employment because they have no idea of your memory issues. And tell you them want to be referred to the memory clinic.

Make notes of all you need to discuss with your gp and the issues you have, so you don’t forget anything while you’re there. Take someone in with as backup for your memory. If you have a mobile phone that can record, you can ask permission to record the conversation, otherwise take notes of what the gp tells you.

I’m retired but I’ve occasionally considered voluntary work, but then I’ll forget something, to pass a message on or whatever. So I decided it wasn’t worth the risk…so joined a few more fitness clubs instead, where my family know where to find me if I forget to come home :laughing:

Actually I’m not that bad now but I still wouldn’t trust myself in any kind of employment :blush:

Lorraine

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Given your memory issues and what you describe I suspect finding and keeping a job may be difficult. Have you tried contacting someone like Turn2us to help with benefit claims e.g. pip, lcwra etc as it sounds to me like you may well be entitled.

Working from home is probably the best option for you. Maybe something where you would have a script to read from - thinking of something like a telephony service where people call and you run through a series of questions that appear on the screen -111 service, parts of DWP.

I agree with @EmeraldEyes in relation to getting a referral to a memory clinic and that might just be the thing that unblocks things like PIP for you.

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PIP is not related to ability to work. You can claim it and work.. The unemployment benefit is ESA.

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Thank you, everyone for suggestions and things. Much appreciated :+1:t2:

Universal Credit keeps saying because of memory etc I’m essentially unemployable, but then just refer me to PIP (which I’ve not managed to get for years now). Now the latest UC guy, he sounds like he wants me to go back to work. Before him (like 2 years ago I think), the UC guy then told me to go to the GP for help. So I did. I went, I said I’d had a stroke, I have memory issues…etc…he (and I’m annoyed that I remember this, considering I have such rubbish memory for day stuff lol) he sighed loudly, then started me on some memory questions (along the lines of ones I’d had a few months before), then said my memory was ok. I was stunned, I hadn’t got everything right, but I’d tried hard, and he shrugged me off like I was making it up. Then he referred me to the hospital to discuss it. First appointment, 5 months away.

Delayed.. 6 months…delayed…7 months. Then first appointment seemed good (as in not great, but I could see the problems, they were noticeable to the doc). Then second appointment was for 10 months later. Third was only a month after, which is good. Then, as a result I’ve got copied in to the same letter (similar to previous ones I think), saying I had a stroke, was in hospital, had memory problems, etc etc. And that’s it. I now have the letter, my meetings with the doc gave stopped.

Should I go back to the GP? I’m not sure there’s anything they can do, probably why the other guy sighed like I was a loser (rawwwrr!).

I’ve got other doc appointments about a constant tinnitus I now have in one ear…maybe I should ask the nicer female GP for help now it’s not the horrible male one.

I’m not sure there’s anything else they could do, I was asking the male doc what I could do about my memory, mentioning UC told me to go there, and he just turned nasty. If he didn’t mention a memory clinic, is it likely another GP would?

I’m being told I’m a zero point-er for PIP. So no idea what I can do there. I showed the doc papers, I’ve explained memory issues. I’ve repeatedly got 0. My only option is to go back to work :melting_face:

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Hi @Toonah , not sure if this helps but from my own sometimes blotted memory Shaw is the Shaw Trust I think. They are there to support people with additional needs into employment- I think.

I worked closely with the local job centre around 10 years ago with homeless kids and we had an excellent worker who just kept sending their claims through as she deemed “that they weren’t ready or capable for work” at the time and had nos issues as their placement with me was based on getting universal credit and housing benefit on the back of that.

Not sure if this helps , also with my dad we went to the local workers rights centre as directed by CAB started an appeal which the DWP no showed and paid my dad in full(backdated) and never heard again for years until he reached pension age and this transferred over.

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I’ve no idea what ESA is now lol

I applied for PIP as Universal Credit told me to, but I’m just rejected for that.

They originally gave me nothing for Capability to Work, then…they changed their mind and did. But that’s only “capability to work” (valid for 2 years, ends this December). I’m doing the court thing with (I hope) Citizens Advice help, for the CTW (+2letters)…I don’t remember what they are lol, everyone else I speak to knows. Basically I don’t have to look for work for 2 years (despite them telling me that after 10 months, they allowed it after rejecting it), but I’m not holding my breath for the CTW(+2 letters) since they didn’t give it originally, and PIP is rejected, and everything is just turned away.

I get into a bit of a grump about it. I’m trying to laugh now. It “might” all work, and I get the advanced Capability to work thing, which equals a bit more money, and a bit of a chance to work at everything. But I just am not feeling positive. So wondering what to do with myself next.

I mean work from home sounds nice. BUT the slight issues when viewing things on a comp screen and missing words, I’m not hopeful… Even if I could get work like that lol

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Yes, Shaw Trust, that must be them. I went to one meeting with the lady, then she called a few days later and said due to my memory etc, she wasn’t sure Shaw was suitable. So signed me off it.

I’ve no idea if it’s changed again, now the UC guy has mentiined them helping. I’d been linked to Shaw 3-4 years ago, then they said as I had medical things it prob wasn’t best. Then back to Shaw, but after one meeting, she called and said it prob wasn’t suitable.

I’ve no idea if Shaw has changed to something else since a couple of years ago lol

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I have a slight dilemma…

My next UC meeting (to discuss me going back to work) is in the start of Sept.

My court case, for Capability to work (I’ve looked it up - LCWRA! ) is in mid September.

Originally it was set for June I think, but DWP didn’t appear to the online court case, so it was delayed.

I’ve mentioned the previous court case and UC/DWP not attending to UC…but do I mention it again to my UC meeting… I mean I don’t imagine they’d even link they should click a button to make someone attend, it shouldn’t require my local UC I don’t think (not a clue). But should I mention the court thing to UC. Will that remind someone to wake up and attend and refuse my claim…or should I not remind them, in which case I doubt anything different happens, but will them forgetting to attend eventually work in my favour?

I know the answer is “doubt it” but there’s a cheeky hope :laughing:

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In my case it did, the judge noted that the DWP person did not attend and it helped my case. That DWP person also had requested on the notes that the case was dismissed even before it went to tribunal. They probably had a holiday planned or a party to go to.

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That’s what I’m hoping, if I don’t mention it to them, they screw up… it works in my favour. But I’m not holding my breath. That said, I am sniggering at your comment… well done you! :sparkling_heart:

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Sorry missed some of this thread, @Toonah I meant to ask have you ever had any formal assessment. Think it was once called a work capability assessment. This should have been done and if you haven’t please speak to your local CAB office , they usually have someone to tell you who to go to local to you for support. When we went with my dad they managed to sort this relatively quickly and the DWP were royally reamed out at his tribunal. Just because they are a government department doesn’t mean that they’re always right.

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I had a meeting where I went to North london, and spoke to a nurse (nurse person…) at a UC office, discussed everything, gave evidence of meds etc etc. I assumed that is what eventually got me the Capability to Work thing, having applied in Jan and it was rejected, then (honestly cant rmemember when the appointment was) I got it as accepted, but in Oct 2025, they counted it from when I’d applied in Jan 20205… since then I’ve not had to go to UC for the meetings every 2 weeks, which was nice. But the Capability to Work that I was awarded was just the basic one, and valid for only 2 years. I didn’t realise it was being taken to court (to apply for the other version), with the extra letters) until I got notification of a court date. That explains why only valid for 2 years, and zero extra money or anything. It just meant less meetings with UC. But now we’re in August, UC changed my phonecalls (which they changed it to, rather than going into the UC every 2 weeks) from every 4 months… and the last one, instead of being 4 months (which it was… but then they CHANGED IT) and now the next meeting is 1 month since the call. And I have to go into the UC for that one rather than a phone call. And they made me accept the terms and conditions for planning to go back to work for 35 (or was it 45?) hrs a week. Despite me still not always remembering things like taking my daily meds… or directions… or ability to use cash.

I dunno. I’m not optimistic. Next UC meeting is in 3 weeks or so now. And the court case is in 4 weeks. The UC dude is wanting me to go back to work. I’m not expecting the court thing to change anything really. I’ve gone to the GP, they sent me to hospital, which took ages. And just gave me a piece of paper saying nothing new. I’m not optimistic about anything. I didn’t know about capability to work or PIP till UC told me about them. Then since then I just get rejected for Capability to work and PIP.

I’m not expecting I’ll never work again, I just haven’t a clue what work I can do, and UC doesn’t help - just tells me to apply for Capability to work and PIP. When I finally got Capabiltiy to work I thought YAY… that’s that. But I didn’t realise it was just the basic version. Valid for 2 years (and 10 months of that had passed when they finally gave it to me), no extra money, no info. And now a court case. So fully expecting the court case to go against me, and then I’ll just give up and have to go back to work in January. I can’t live on £300 a month, the house is in need of massive repares which will suck all of my savings to nothing… so maybe I’ll get more UC then, but it’ll be paying off builders.

I’m actually really missing my years as a slave/PA for an idiot. It was miserable time working too hard for little pay, but I functioned. Now I’m just preparing for inevitable stacking of shelves in the supermarket, then worrying if I remember where the shelves are, or what to do with the stuff which I’m meant to stack. It’s hard work now I’ve suposedly recovered! lol

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Hi @Toonah ,sorry I got caught up yesterday just catching this now. As with everyone and the DWP there can be a lot of moving parts, this is confusing enough for most.

Have you in any of your dealings with the universal credit(U/C) team ever been offered the opportunity of an advocate/ chaperone to assist , as if your memory is impaired and the bedrock of any U/C signed agreement is between you and the DWP effectively unfair.

I worked with an young man who suffered a brain injury aged 9 and at 18 was allowed to sign on for U/C with a trustee- they managed his money as he was easily manipulated or conned by others. He was told like I think you may have been that he qualified for U/C based on “hardship” which meant very limited sit down chats or to keep or maintain a jobseekers diary. Don’t know if this may help but have you support as a worker attended as many and the phone interviews before before Ian Duncan Smith’s universal credit was rolled out they hared me and my team as we would issue corrections over them and point out well no that’s not true now is it?

I think the fact The Shaw Trust have spoken with you and that you struggle with memory just now should be a sign that maybe you could not work yet. There’s H&S issues for you and others there in the workplace. I would suggest get all the paperwork you can remember and find , and try and get support from the local CAB or money advice hub. I would hope that they will find you someone who can help advocate on your behalf to get what you need/ deserve.

P.S. like all good politicians Duncan Smith lied about visiting a place near me for his vision of universal credit, he alleged talking to locals inspired him. There was more than a faint smell of poo there he walked through at great pace jumped in his limo and was gone.

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Make sure u go through the appeal process. Through to the tribunal the assessments will fail u if they still need to reach targets also 40 % of reconsideration appeals won’t change but with the tribunal they look properly at the data medical records and there independent from the DWP and the tribunal over turns 60% of the appeals in the claiments favour I may have the 40% and 60% wrong way I’ve had to do this crap since 2009 if I send messages on here I’ll send U my number and I’ll be happy to help you with the application forms also were you claiming old ESA prior to UC at all