Any carers having issues getting included in group 6?

[SinkGirl]

I’ve contacted my GP practice to make sure both DH and I are on the carers list. We have twins who are both disabled, both receive higher rate care DLA, attend a specialist school etc.

They called me today and asked if I claim carers allowance as this would provide the necessary evidence. I explained that although we would both be eligible due to the twins’ benefits, we both earn too much to qualify for CA (yes, my 7.5 hour a week job means I earn too much - that’s another thread entirely!).

She said this would be a problem since there’s no evidence we are carers. Surely they can just look at my childrens’ medical records to see that they are both disabled? Who else would be their carers?

They’re looking into it and will get back to me but the policy is clear that you don’t need to be in receipt of CA to qualify for group 6.

Has anyone else had this and was it resolved?

Can you send them a copy of your children's dla awards?
Took me about a week to convince my Dr to change my coding. Explaining to them that this year's carers allowance award hadn't arrived yet and no they can't look at my full bank statement (ended up finding a 3yo letter and then screenshot of the payment going in bank). There must be something they'll accept, otherwise if your children have a consultant could you try contacting their secretary to see if they could do you a letter.

I didn't have this problem. I emailed in said who my child was that I was their carer. No evidence needed as the doctors can see all their medical history with consultants letters etc the receptionist phoned back to say I have been added to group 6.

I would complain to the practice manager.

Between them there’s about 7 consultants! Surely the evidence they already have (eg. mountains of consultant letters, test results etc etc) is better evidence than anything else!

I have offered to send them evidence of their DLA awards and they’ve said they will get back to me. I will go to the practice manager if I have to but hopefully they’ll sort it out (they are starting on group 5 at the moment so there’s time). I’m surprised they haven’t faced this before but they seemed completely unaware of the rules. I would understand if I was claiming to be a carer for someone unrelated who lived elsewhere.

My surgery is sending me to a local charity to get them to issue paperwork to state that I am a carer. I have no dealings with this charity so how they would know is beyond me. My DC is severely disabled, they surgery knows my DC, they know me as well. I am coded as a carer, get the flu jab and yet I won't get the vaccine until I go through this charity. The government guidelines are pretty clear and you don't have to get carers allowance but a lot of surgeries seem to try to get you off the list if you don't. Doesn't surprise me though. We carers are always treated as the lowest of the lowest in this country.

I will see if I can get sorted via the charity. Otherwise I will check what the complaints procedure is. I not having it.

That’s absolutely disgraceful @TheAvenger - how can they justify this when they only have to look in their own records? Ridiculous the humps they are making you jump through - I would complain now. As if we don’t have enough to deal with.

Jumping through humps?

Sorry. Very tired.

My GPs just sent out a firm with an email asking for very few details of anyone who is a career and they included “a informal career” in that.

It seems very silly of your GP to be asking for evidence when they have your children’s medical details.

My DH is an unpaid carer, some things for me, some things for FIL.
GP has refused to add him to the carers list. Didnt even ask if he got carers allowance. Flat out refused
Its a bit shit because people are falling through the cracks, who severely need the jab.

Do you have a local Carers centre and if not contact Carers Uk, they should be able to give you a covering letter. GPs are so hit & miss with recognising Carers.

Thanks all - will see what (if anything) they come back with and look up local carers centre.

Apparently each surgery in our group has a “Carers Lead” so maybe I should ask to speak to them - surely they should know what the rules for carers are!

DH said he’s not even going to bother to ask. He had a hard enough job getting his surgery to agree to give him a flu jab under the career category. He’s 56 so he shouldn’t be waiting too much longer, anyway, hopefully.

I filled in a Carers form a while back and they added a Carers flag to my record (I can see it as I logged on through NHS app). I hope this will mean I am included in group 6 - scared to ask the GP!

It’s so ridiculous that other GPs won’t accept you as Carers.

My husband gets carers allowance for DS and his GP wouldn't commit to him being eligible for group 6 and just kept saying he wasn't a priority 🤷‍♀️

Following on from my last post, this is the NHS app: www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/online-services/nhs-app/

If you signup for it, under “conditions” it will say if you are a carer. This is how I know it is on my NHS records. I assume this is the flag that will be used for having the Covid jab, although I haven’t been called yet.

Also it’s good in another way, as you can link to the profile of the person you are caring for and order prescriptions and keep an eye on their medical records, test results etc.

I don't get carer's allowance as I work part time but I am registered as a carer at my GP's.

It was very straightforward and all I had to do was fill in a form. The person I care for is also a patient there.

I actually had my Covid vaccination text invite a couple of days ago so my area has already started on group 6. Ironically I can't book it yet as I'm recovering from actually having had Coronavirus. I need to wait at least another week.

Hmmph- I set up the app on the back of your post but can’t see a conditions section. I’ve looked through and can’t see any sign of me being listed as a carer either, unless I am missing something.

Are you sure it is conditions? I can’t find anywhere on the app that specifies my conditions. Just a list of all the medications prescribed.

I am an unpaid carer for my disabled and CEV father. We both belong to the same clinic. I have never previously registered because didn't really see the point. I registered last week and rung to check and I am now in Group 6. Didn't need to provide any evidence (although they obv have my dad's medical records)

This is terrible :( I'm a carer for my 5yo DD, I do receive carers allowance but I emailed them a month ago to check/ask if DH was flagged as he is also her carer (of course) though he doesn't receive CA. The they immediately emailed back to confirm he was and we both received our jab (group 6) 2 weeks ago. Keep pushing is all I can say :(

If you are having trouble send the template from carers UK. They have been contact problematic GP surgeries that still ignore the guidelines in some cases as well.

www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/health/looking-after-your-health/register-as-an-unpaid-carer-with-your-gp-template-letter

@QuiteGood. From the home page (once logged in), I click on “View your GP health record” and then “Health conditions” Amongst my own health conditions it says “Is a carer”.

@QuiteGood

Hmmph- I set up the app on the back of your post but can’t see a conditions section. I’ve looked through and can’t see any sign of me being listed as a carer either, unless I am missing something.

Are you sure it is conditions? I can’t find anywhere on the app that specifies my conditions. Just a list of all the medications prescribed.

DH has the same problem apparently contacting the surgery can help gain more access, however that doesn't account for when the secretaries are the problem.

Has anyone considered putting in a letter of complaint to the surgery manager?

Theres a letter written by the JVCI where they explain that unpaid carers should be included in the Tier 6 cohort for vaccination.

DH has written a letter, with proofs and a copy of the letter that the JVCI sent out to GP services, asking for both confirmation and explanation as to why they have no plans to vaccinate unpaid carers.

Slightly different to many of the situations here, because my GP practice actually said they don't intend on vaccinating unpaid carers, but the same letter does outline people who are in receipt or carers allowance, or a main carer.