Vaccine - unpaid carers

[Florelei]

Is anyone else having significant problems with their GPs? I am registered as a carer with them and asked them yesterday if I was included within group 6.

They said they wouldn’t be putting anyone forward as a carer in group 6 without either evidence of carer’s allowance or a carer’s passport from the council. I can’t claim carer’s allowance as my earnings are just over the threshold even though I only work part time.

I rang the council who didn’t know what I was talking about.

Has anyone else experienced this and does anyone have any tips?

Many thanks in advance.

[Bluebolt]

I will be honest I have cried continuously since, not because of the vaccine for that I am past the point of giving a shit, but that my own GP (he made the decision) thinks I am using my child to push in. For that alone I will never be in the same room again with him. I would rather be ill and not seek treatment than speak to him.

[Kitkat151]

@Lancrelady80

Ds (7) receives DLA and I was receiving Carers Allowancce for him until work hours increased so would get CA except that I earn too much.

Should I then be Group 6? First I've heard of registering as a carer with GP.

Seems clear about unpaid carers if looking after an elderly person, but what about the young?

A carer is a carer regardless of the age of the one you care for.....your son has additional needs therefore you should be registered as a carer and be entitled to the flu jab every winter as well as the Covid vaccine

[Weepingwillow22]

Does anyone know how it works if there are two parents caring for a disabled child? Do you decide which one is the designated carer or can you both register?

[LizzieSiddal]

Weeping you can both register.

[vjg13]

Bluebolt I am so sorry and angry that you were made to feel like that. Disgusting behaviour, is there a practice manager you can complain to. Why can some GP's not understand the role of a carer of a person with a disability is totally different than a parent caring for a child?

[DinosaurDiana]

I’m annoyed as my local trust put an ad on Facebook yesterday saying that unpaid carers, who can prove that themselves or the ‘patient’ are in receipt of a carers allowance, can book. Went on to book for my DH at one of these regional centres, and there were appointments for yesterday, when you actually clicked on the centre it said that only over 65’s and health/social carers could book, and an appointment wasn’t a guarantee - you would be assessed. I’ve been on again this morning and there’s appointments from 9.20am today right through.
Absolutely infuriating 😡

[Lancrelady80]

Useful to know, KitKat. Thank you.

I'll contact the GP on Monday. Let's hope they are kinder than some of the appalling staff I have read about on this thread.

[Florelei]

It looks like they are initially relying upon either receipt of or eligibility for carers allowance as the criteria for being a carer.

I earn more than the threshold so I don’t think I’d qualify.

www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2021/02/C1150-next-steps-on-the-vaccination-programme-vaccinating-cohort-6-.pdf

[Florelei]

Or being flagged as a carer. Apologies I misread it in my upset about this whole situation.

[AlwaysLatte]

What constitutes a carer? I go to look after my Dad mom-fri who has Copd amongst other things. He's too breathless to get his own meals so I take him lunch every day, hoover, collect his tablets and organise them in his weekly boxes, also take him to all his appointments. Does that count? I am terrified of catching it and giving it to him as I can't distance from him in the car.

[AlwaysLatte]

(I wouldn't be able to claim any carer's allowance)

[DinosaurDiana]

@AlwaysLatte

What constitutes a carer? I go to look after my Dad mom-fri who has Copd amongst other things. He's too breathless to get his own meals so I take him lunch every day, hoover, collect his tablets and organise them in his weekly boxes, also take him to all his appointments. Does that count? I am terrified of catching it and giving it to him as I can't distance from him in the car.

You would need to register with your GP as a carer.

[DinosaurDiana]

I have read that EITHER the carer or the carer for need to be receipt of a carers allowance, and the carer needs to be able to prove it.
I think this will kick in tomorrow, it’s not letting me book for my DH yet.

[AlwaysLatte]

Thanks Dinosaur - presumably my GP rather than his? I'll get on to it.

[DinosaurDiana]

*the carer or the cared for

[DinosaurDiana]

@AlwaysLatte

Thanks Dinosaur - presumably my GP rather than his? I'll get on to it.

Yes yours. You should be offered an annual flu as well.

[cansu]

This is completely wrong. I am a carer to a child with severe learning disabilities. I emailed my practice reminding them that I was a carer and offering to provide evidence in the form of my dd's DLA. I received an email back confirming that they had me down as a carer and that I would be included in group 6. I had my vaccination last week. It should be that simple. I would write to the CCG and insist that they add you.

[cansu]

By the way I don't get carers allowance as I work while my dd is at school.

[Nat6999]

My 17 year old ds who is mine & exh carer had his jab last Tuesday. My 49 year old brother had his on Thursday, I'm 55 & haven't heard a thing.

[frippit]

If you work and cannot receive Carers Allowance because of your income you should still apply. My husband receives PIP and I'm his carer. I applied and have a letter which says I have an underlying entitlement to Carers allowance. This is useful when I take periods of unpaid leave as I still get my state pension credited.

[SinkGirl]

They have changed the wording! That NHSE letter says:
“According to the JCVI and Public Health England Green Book, adult carers are “those who are eligible for a carer’s allowance, or those who are the sole or primary carer of an elderly or disabled person who is at increased risk of COVID-19 mortality and therefore clinically vulnerable”.

That is most definitely not what the green book said - there was a footnote about carers which is absent from the green book document linked in that letter.

They’ve shafted us, haven’t they? This is what government guidance says right now. They’ve moved the goalposts.

[emailavalanche]

The reason limiting group 6 vaccines to those carers in receipt of carers allowance is incorrect is because that makes access to the vaccine basically means-tested, and the vaccine is not means-tested.
The fact that a person earns too much for carers allowance does not mean they are not a carer.
Carers allowance is only one way for a GP to accept a person is a carer. There are other ways they should take into account, but crucially carers' organisations are encouraging people to self-identify as carers and actually it is not the GP practice manager's job to decide.
And the group 6 vaccine definition for carers has been changed now to include mental illness as well (in a letter sent directly to all GP surgeries last week) so not just the elderly and disabled any more, which reflects carers organisations definitions too.

Any surgery/vaccine hub that limits priority 6 vaccines to only those getting carers allowance is discriminating against higher earners and that is not allowed. After all they did not means-assess the elderly and turn away better off elderly people.

[WasThereAplan]

We had this each year with flu vaccinations had to virtually beg each year and it was degrading

[DinosaurDiana]

You do not need to be in receipt of carer’s allowance. You just have to prove that the person you are caring for is.

[SinkGirl]

And the group 6 vaccine definition for carers has been changed now to include mental illness as well (in a letter sent directly to all GP surgeries last week) so not just the elderly and disabled any more, which reflects carers organisations definitions too.

According to that NHS England letter it’s for carers of those who are vulnerable to COVID, which is absolutely not what the government guidance says.