Bubble update!

[november90]

So I've seen a screenshot saying that parents with a child under 1 can form a bubble despite the tier. Does anyone know if this is true? I don't know the source of the screenshot!
It's been a very isolating time for us lockdown mums especially for those with partners who work long hours!

@november90

So I've seen a screenshot saying that parents with a child under 1 can form a bubble despite the tier. Does anyone know if this is true? I don't know the source of the screenshot! It's been a very isolating time for us lockdown mums especially for those with partners who work long hours!

Yes it’s true, it’s in the winter plan. It’s not updated on the gov website et because it doesn’t come into force until lockdown ends, but from 2nd December it’s allowed. It’s a support bubble, so same as those who live alone. It’s such good news, I’m same as you it’s been so isolating! My only problem now is who to choose...

Sorry to take this slightly off topic amd I hope uou don't mind me asking on this thread, but reading about this it goes on to say about carers.....my fiance is a carer for his mum who has quite advanced dementia, he lives with her, she has carers in during the daytime whilst he is at work, but he does all her shopping, cleaning, ironing, cooking, etc. We can't legally form a bubble as I also have an 18 year old. Has anyone interpreted this to mean live in carers can now form a bubble with a multi adult household?

It's great news for me too. I had a baby in May and my DP works very long hours out of the house. The only people I see are school mams at drop off and pick up. It's been incredibly lonely and tiring and my parents are increasingly depressed that they can't see their grand children.

It is on the Govt website under 'What tiers mean'.

www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know

From 'What tiers mean'
This guidance sets out what you can and cannot do in each tier.

There is also separate guidance for support and childcare bubbles, which apply across all tiers.

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

www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know

So can the carer only form a bubble with a single adult household as per the old rules or does it now mean they can join a multi adult household bubble?

I think its great that parents of under 1s can form a bubble with another household.
But I do think that should extend to people with children or adults with disabilities even if not single.
As how I have read it parents can form a bubble even if not single with children under 1 or a disabled child under 5.
But not if its a disabled adult or child over the the age of 5 that you care for.

@booboo24

So can the carer only form a bubble with a single adult household as per the old rules or does it now mean they can join a multi adult household bubble?

you are the only adult in your household or are the only adult who does not have a disability that needs continuous care

I would read that as meaning that the person requiring continuous care is discounted so your fiance is being classed as a single person household. We are certainly going to class fil in that category (he cares for mil with dementiam she cannot be left alone at all).

@Comefromaway Thats how I read it too, but didn't want to get my hopes up. The carers need support too

Precisely. It's exhausting caring for someone with dementia. Fil ended up in hospital in the summer and said he felt relieved as it was a break for him.

Probably a stupid question but is dementia classed as a disability (it certainly requires continous care in many cases)

Dementia isn't always but can certainly be a disablity: it is long term and has a significant impact on the person's ability to conduct daily activities.

@Comefromaway I'd say it is, no question, they require constant care, my mil can no longer look after herself, it's incredibly sad

We dare not ever leave mil alone.

exactly, it's a cruel illness. I'm sorry to hear about your mil too

"As how I have read it parents can form a bubble even if not single with children under 1 or a disabled child under 5.
But not if its a disabled adult or child over the the age of 5 that you care for."

That's correct but everyone I know with a disabled older child or adult will quite reasonably do it anyway.

But not if its a disabled adult or child over the the age of 5 that you care for

I care for DH who has COPD. He uses a mobility scooter and also has ischemic heart disease, So is it okay for me to form a support bubble?

That's correct but everyone I know with a disabled older child or adult will quite reasonably do it anyway

It screams discrimination that they officially cant.

This was taken from the Guardian:

Support bubbles – which allowed a single household to join with another household – are also being broadened across all tiers. Parents with a child under one will be able to form a support bubble, as well as those with a child under five who needs continuous care, such as a child with a disability. Also, in cases where there is a single adult carer, for a partner with dementia for example, they would also be able to form a support bubble.

So @MercyBooth i would say you would be allowed, yes

@Comefromaway The above posted quote comes from the Guardian, I just found it, and it uses Dementia in its example

@booboo24 Thank You

Great thanks.

So sorry to hear of those in difficult situations. It's been such a tough year for everyone. These bubbles should've been in place months ago. My husband left me when I was pregnant with our second child so I've spent lockdown at my parents which has been great but had mentioned I can't make a bubble with anyone which is hard when your a single gel parent. My sisters husband also works long hours so she's effectively like a single parent but as she lives with her husband she hasn't been allowed to bubble either. So glad we can now bubble together and enjoy our babies! ❤️

I have 2 disabled children and husband has to work, obviously not so bad during school days but at half terms when I'm on my knees it would of been nice to be able to have some extra support.

And I'm not knocking parents with under ones I think its a great thing to do and should of been introduced sooner.
But why is it fair that a couple with a child can have a support bubble if there under one.
But I can't with disabled children because there over 5.
Like I said there at school but weekends and holidays there not, just feels a little unfair.