"Expanding eligibility of support bubbles"- what?!

[Youreatragedystartingtohappen]

Just read through the docs and saw this little bit of info

I know there's nothing worse than a "what do you think this means?" question BUT...

What do you think this means?

Section d

I would say if you have a baby under 1 or a disabled child under 5, you can form a support bubble with another household, the same as single adults can

Baby under 1 can form a support bubble. Best news I’ve had all year we’ve been without support since my baby was born in summer

Sounds like if you have a baby under 1 (or disabilities) you can bubble with another household even if you are a two person household eg your parents. Wish that was extended to all disabled peoples carers!

It mentions a single adult caring for a person with a disability so fingers crossed for you Moving (I'm guessing that this would help you)

Support bubbles have been expanded. From 2 December you can form a support bubble with another household if any of the following apply to you:
• you are the only adult in your household (any other members of the household having been under 18 on 12 June 2020) or are the only adult who does not have a disability that needs continuous care
• you have a child under 1
• you live with a child under 5 with a disability that needs continuous care
The government will announce the arrangements that will be in place over the Christmas period shortly.

Am possibly being a bit thick but in the promising event of being able to form a support bubble with my parents (due to having a baby under one) would that mean that they then weren’t able to bubble with my brother’s family who will also have a baby under one in the new year? I can see my parents finding that a really hard dilemma, although common sense tells me that from an infection control perspective the whole support bubble thing would presumably have to be confined to one other household only? And also would my parents then have to stop their ‘bubbling’ with my aged Aunt who is on her own....it’s a minefield!

Thank you so much for posting this! I have a DS who has a disability and fits within the category so this is good news for us!

Omg I have a baby under 1 this will make all the difference to me!!

@Puddlelane123

Am possibly being a bit thick but in the promising event of being able to form a support bubble with my parents (due to having a baby under one) would that mean that they then weren’t able to bubble with my brother’s family who will also have a baby under one in the new year? I can see my parents finding that a really hard dilemma, although common sense tells me that from an infection control perspective the whole support bubble thing would presumably have to be confined to one other household only? And also would my parents then have to stop their ‘bubbling’ with my aged Aunt who is on her own....it’s a minefield!

You're correct your parents won't be able to be in more than one support bubble. So they can bubble with your aunt, you or your brother but not a combination. It's an expansion of the eligibility, not the number of support bubbles allowed.

@Puddlelane123 once they have a support bubble they also can't switch so they will have to stick to whatever you all decide.

Not parents with older disabled children though. We are doing are own thing to get by anyway whatever support bubble rules there may be.

And if they have already bubbled with your aunt they can't now change to you (in accordance with the rules - in practice who would know, if they wanted to swap I'd probably stop the bubble for 10-14 days then start the new bubble).

Thank you ladies, I suspected that would probably be the case! Lots of dilemmas for people I imagine - I can just envisage the AIBU posts!

Is the child under 1 bubble only if the parent is single or even if they are in a relationship? Sorry if it seems obvious

@Catlover10

Is the child under 1 bubble only if the parent is single or even if they are in a relationship? Sorry if it seems obvious

A household with a baby under 1 is now eligible from 2nd December no matter if they are single or not.

Seems strange to not include people who provide care for other people of any age with disabilities that need continuous care. I wonder why the cut off is at 5?

@Storyofcats

Seems strange to not include people who provide care for other people of any age with disabilities that need continuous care. I wonder why the cut off is at 5?

It's possibly because those over 5 are entitled to school provision? Not really sure though

Yeah I see what you mean. I was thinking more about adults with learning disabilities etc (a lot of usual out of the home activities are not on currently)

It should definitely include carers of adults with learning disabilities but since they had the original cut off at 18 without considering even single parents of disabled adults, they have no idea of what level of care some people are providing at the moment. People in this situation should take support when they need it regardless of support bubble rules.

@HotChocolate12

I would say if you have a baby under 1 or a disabled child under 5, you can form a support bubble with another household, the same as single adults can

Yeah pretty obvious IMO

@movingonup20

Sounds like if you have a baby under 1 (or disabilities) you can bubble with another household even if you are a two person household eg your parents. Wish that was extended to all disabled peoples carers!

Here is a clearer explanation.

If you're the only adult in the household who is not disabled, you can form a support bubble.

This is excellent news for new parents who have been struggling without support.

Can someone link this please? Support bubbles haven't been updated on the gov website and I can't read the picture op has included, it is blurry for me

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/937529/COVID-19_Winter_Plan.pdf