I'm going to be out of a job soon due to my health, and I can only hope that I'll be able to hold out long enough to put in my two weeks notice and quit properly instead of getting fired for attendance. I was told to have request forms sent in for medical-related intermittent leave, but I don't expect to be here long enough to wait for all that to go through and be effective, nor do I have any idea how much leave I'd actually be able to get, if any. It's too much complication and waiting for too little benefit, especially when the bigger issue is the job itself, not just how much time I spend there.

So long story short, I need to be looking for a new job ASAP.
But what should I be looking for? I'm not qualified for much of anything, as I have only a high school diploma and a few years' worth of retail experience. No management/leadership jobs, no office work, no degrees. So my options are limited enough as it is. Even more so when considering the reason I need to leave my current job: my health problems.

I have Crohn's disease, which is an autoimmune disease that mainly affects the digestive tract, but it also causes other problems like joint pain, muscle pain, and fatigue. The medication I take for it suppresses my immune system, so I'm also more at risk for catching illnesses like cold or flu, and more likely to have a harder time with those things than others if/when I do get sick. With my medication, I'm usually fine while in remission, but I could have a flare-up at any time (could be months or years between flare-ups), which could last from weeks to months, during which my symptoms will be bad enough to keep me from doing much physically at all. When not having a flare-up, I still have to watch out for stress, which is my number one trigger for symptoms.

Lately, my life has been nothing but stress, and it's really starting to have an effect on my health. Paired with the physically demanding nature of my current job (I do maintenance in a retail store that combines this position with cart pusher, and I am the only maintenance person on my shift), I've been having a lot of trouble keeping up lately and frequently have to call in sick. The attendance policy recently changed so that we only get half as many sick days as we had before, so I'm already only one day away from losing my job.

As if that weren't enough, I've been having mental/emotional symptoms keeping me from being able to get my work done, on top of the physical symptoms. I don't know if it's the constant stress or another underlying issue or a combination, but I've been having a lot of anxiety and other problems cropping up here and there, some of which have also been bad enough to keep me from going to work.

Nothing I have is "bad enough" to get Disability (their requirements are extremely specific), and the accommodations that my current workplace would offer just aren't enough. An extra sick day or two each month, if I even qualified for it, wouldn't solve the problem.
I need a job that's less physically strenuous and less stressful. There's not much I can do about my current living situation, which is a major source of my issues, but a change in job would be doable if I could just figure out where to go.

The problem is, most jobs that you can get with my kind of experience and education are just more of the same. I'm a little afraid that I'll end up getting a job and then have to leave or get fired for the same reasons, or worse yet that I won't be able to get a job at all because no one will want to hire someone with health problems that doesn't have a documented disability.

There don't seem to be many options that match my "resume" besides more retail work and food service, but I'm trying to see what's out there. Ideally I'd love to work with plants or animals, as I feel that would really help with my stress and be less physically demanding (depending on the position, of course; being a landscaper or animal control assistant are unfortunately out of the question, despite me having seen openings for these positions that didn't have any required experience). But I know beggars can't be choosers, so I'll take what I can get--as long as it's something that won't drive me back to the hospital after a few months.

So if you guys have any recommendations for jobs that are low-impact for someone with chronic illness, jobs that are understanding and willing to work with people whose health may be unpredictable, or anything else you think I could/should do about my situation, I'd love to hear it.

@Count Trashula: Hi there, I think you can still apply for unemployment benefit in USA according to the site: https://employment-law.freeadvice.com/employment-law/firing/receiving_insurance.htm

you can only not get qualified if you get fired from misconduct in which you dont. I hope it helps.

in the mean time, have you considered looking at free courses that matches your need for employment?

@Count Trashula: that makes sense. My mom is relying on job agencies to get her what she needs in employment. I know that agencies are tricky. but because of the situation, I'd try for them instead.

Can anyone else in your family help you with your bills? or a friend who can help while sorting out the job hunt?

I would offer you an interesting free course. Its Software Testing. You can become an office person in IT field and I think the envronment is good in general. https://alison.com/courses/software-testing

the official certification is usually paid but letting employer knows that you are learning this might give you a boost.

My sister in law has a serious immune disorder as well that limits her job option. She loves legos and over the past few years she has created a a rather good business buying and selling legos such as buying bulk orders and breaking them up for consumers dont have to buy 50,000 of one type of brick when they only need 2. or buys limited edition sets and makes a profit.
something i personally suggest is starbucks. if you can find a part time position youd get medical (if you need it) great sick AND vacation leave, super flexible hours (at least at everyone ive ever worked at.)
I used to work with a woman who had cancer. She was a stubborn woman and worked every day she absolutely could. She was doing low impact work or on register most of the day. and her sick time built up fast so when she did need to take a week off for health, she was actually able to since she had the time and our manger was helpful.
But i mainly say Starbucks because they will pay for your college to ASU online, and i did that. And if you have the extra time you can get a free degree to better your life in the future. And it is online so you wouldnt have to lug yourself to a class on the hard days (i was thankful for this)
Id also think a front desk job would be good, maybe at a school, office, or anything that has a secretary.