Info on support bubbles

[Bellabelloo]

My best friend is in tier 4. She lives on her own, has been working from home and is suffering so much from anxiety and loneliness. Being told she's locked down for Christmas has been the final straw.

My husband and I are in Tier 2. Is she allowed to form a support bubble and come and stay with us? Or is she still not allowed to move between tiers?

I think think falls into the mental health exclusion and is very ok. See attached from an expert

Thank you. Neither of us want to break any rules but I have been Googling endlessly and can't find out whether it's allowed or not.

If she lives on her own she can form a support bubble but this should be with somebody local to her if at all possible.

She doesn't have friends or family nearby. I'm trying to work out if she can bubble up with us in a different tier (about an hour away) but I can't find any clear guidance anywhere.

Yes she can, you can move between tiers for support bubbles. Support bubbles are sort of above everything else. They’re ideally formed with a household local to you but it’s not a requirement.

My understanding of rules is yes she can. You can form a ‘linked household’

Do you think it would be risky to either you or her? For example, one of you works in a high risk occupation. If the answer is no then form the bubble.

Living alone is all that’s required to form a support bubble, there’s no ‘mental health exemption’ or need for the single adult to be vulnerable.

The issue for you is if you become her support bubble, you and your husband need to adhere to tier 4 rules.

If you are both WFH and only doing food shopping this won't be a problem. However, if one of you doesn't WFH and/or you go out to restaurants, cafes, gym, etc it could be if one of you catches it.

@RedMarauder where does it say support bubble members from outwith tier 4 have to adhere to tier 4 rules when home? I’ve never seen that.

Yes you can bubble with anyone from another tier who is a single person regardless of the level of tier either of you are in (provided you are her only bubble). As previous poster said, support bubbles exist above and beyond any of the rules since they were first brought in. Hope you all have a lovely day and it brings her a little happiness and respite during these difficult times x

The issue for you is if you become her support bubble, you and your husband need to adhere to tier 4 rules.

That's not true. Why do people make this stuff up?

OP, it's fine, the only criteria that matters here is that she lives alone, therefore is entitled to form a bubble with another household.

Guidance is here www.gov.uk/guidance/tier-4-stay-at-home