If you have a disability or illness, and you’re eligible for CDPAP, you might be relieved to know that the New York State Medicaid program covers your home care expenses. However, you may be wondering if you can continue working and earning money even though you have limited mobility.
You might be on a fixed income, and it isn’t enough to meet all your expenses. Or perhaps you would like more financial security. Maybe you would like to work because it gives you a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
The good news is that there are various ways you can work and make an income from home. If you’re reasonably tech-savvy, the opportunities are even greater.
How to earn money from home with limited mobility
While the possibilities can be endless depending on your background and experience, here are four relatively straightforward ways for you to get started.
1. Work as an independent consultant
You might be able to capitalize on the experience and contacts you’ve gained in your career and find work as a project-based consultant. Some areas that usually have a high demand for consultants are strategy, business development, marketing, and talent recruiting. You can look for clients through your own network or join an online consulting marketplace like EXPERT360.
2. Work as a babysitter or caretaker
If you’ve raised children of your own, you’re already an expert at caring for kids. Now you can use your skills and help working parents by looking after their children. Your responsibilities will vary according to the needs of each child. Be sure that you only agree to look after kids that are a good fit for you, based on your mobility and availability.
3. Work as a writer or editor
It’s almost 2020, and nearly every single business on the planet has a blog. They all need writers to create content for them on a regular basis. Companies also need writers for their emails, web pages, newsletters, social media, and the list goes on. While there is the opportunity to make money as a writer in virtually any area, the better-paying jobs are typically in health, finance, tech, or B2B. You can find clients within your network, or look for writing gigs on sites like Upwork, ProBlogger, or even LinkedIn.
4. Teach English online
If you’re fluent in English and have a bachelor’s degree, there are quite a few companies that will pay you to teach English online. Many of them don’t require any teaching experience, although having a certificate like TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) can only help. Most of these companies target students in Asia, particularly China, where the demand for online tutors is high. Two well-reputed websites are Whales English and VIPKid.
Final Thoughts
Regardless of which route you choose, there are a few things that you should consider. If possible, try to set up a home-office. Not only can you get all your work done there, but you can also use the space to meet with clients if necessary. You’ll most likely also need an invoicing solution like Freshbooks or Paypal, and a communication tool like Skype or Zoom.
If you aren’t super tech-savvy, don’t worry, because none of these tools are complicated to use. And remember, you can always ask your CDPAP caregiver to help you get set-up and provide assistance with tech-related tasks till you get more comfortable with working from home.