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Original poster

Vaccine - unpaid carers

284 replies

Florelei · 20/02/2021 12:39

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.

OP posts:
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5
Bluebolt · 21/02/2021 18:50

That should be carers allowance not assessment

vjg13 · 21/02/2021 19:02

The link to book a vaccination via the SOP is still incorrect if this came in on the 20th.

My GP has myself (CA) and my husband coded as carers and we both received the vaccination on Friday. Just need my disabled adult daughter with SLD to be able get it nowHmm

TalbotAMan · 21/02/2021 19:15

DW has cerebral palsy, uses a wheelchair and gets enhanced PIP living and mobility. I have coeliac. We should both be in Group 6. I registered as her carer with the GP some years ago, mainly in order to get an NHS flu jab (though I was then diagnosed with asthma and got it on my own as it were). I don't get Carer's Allowance because I work and earn too much.

On Thursday, when I am working (in the office - some days I need access to records which only exist on paper) and in the middle of telephone conferencing (work phone with my mobile silenced), I get a message from DD1 (teenager) that the GP has just called DW to book her vaccination. DW has asked whether I can be vaccinated with her, and they have said they would have to speak to me. Once that telephone conference ends I call the GP, get asked various questions about her disability and my caring, and booked in for just after DW. However, 10 minutes after, when I am back in another telephone conference and my mobile is on silent, I get a 'private number' call on my mobile, which I think can only have been from the GP.

So I think I qualified as an unpaid carer (though frankly, as long as I get vaccinated, I don't care why!)

caringcarer · 21/02/2021 20:37

@rosy39forever, take your carers allowance award letter to your GP surgery.

rosie39forever · 21/02/2021 23:03

@caringcarer they already have copies of my carers allowance award and dds pip award. Surgery doors are locked only telephone consults at the moment, I’ll have another go tomorrow see if I can talk to one of the GPS.

Original poster
Florelei · 22/02/2021 09:36

If things weren’t bad enough, one of my friends has just told me that I have to wait my turn and that I shouldn’t be getting a vaccine now because she has t had hers. It’s attitudes like this that really upset me.

OP posts:
Bluebolt · 22/02/2021 09:47

Florelei
Have you asked for their stance in an email, I found that with mine they suddenly didn’t want to write what they were happy to say on the phone. I also reminded them that I was not just a carer but a patient of their practice in my own right. Duty of care and all that.

Tiktokersmiracle · 22/02/2021 10:08

@Florelei

If things weren’t bad enough, one of my friends has just told me that I have to wait my turn and that I shouldn’t be getting a vaccine now because she has t had hers. It’s attitudes like this that really upset me.
Oh you think that's bad On my local gossip page on Facebook, a woman was arguing with me over schools going back, called me a c**t and an "Facebook scientist" as I said so many teachers had been effected by ill health and in some cases death, and this weekend a 16 year old with no underlying health issues passed away. Her attitude was "no known" illness. So I said, would that make any difference? Apparently yes it does

I pointed out that attitude towards people dying due to covid due to illness as fine is almost nazi in its vileness. As if they are collateral.

Original poster
Florelei · 22/02/2021 12:53

So they have booked me in for a vaccine after I made a nuisance of myself with the practice manager over email.

However, they have washed their hands of me and warned me that I will need to provide proof of being a carer when I arrive at the vaccination centre. And because I haven’t got a letter from the council setting out that I am a carer, I might get turned away.

OP posts:
Original poster
Florelei · 22/02/2021 12:54

@Tiktokersmiracle - that’s outrageous. Flowers

OP posts:
frippit · 22/02/2021 13:17

That's a step forward florelei. My drs just texted me that someone will phone me next Monday so I'm not further forward at all. They've said I can call in at the Dr's this afternoon with my DWP careres allowance letter for them to copy.
I've always found my drs surgery to be very helpful and my gp also, this is the first time I've come up against a brick wall with them.

rosie39forever · 22/02/2021 13:58

Quick update, following 2 phone calls and an email this morning my surgery has conceded that yes I am in fact a carer and would I like to come in for a jab on Thursday 🥳 keep at it everyone xx

Spikeyball · 22/02/2021 14:39

We have heard nothing and would want both of us vaccinated (2:1 care required) or failing that, dh who doesn't get carers allowance because he is the most difficult to replace - ds can have very aggressive behaviour. We are also group 9 so at least it would only be another month to wait.

Tiktokersmiracle · 22/02/2021 15:30

Still no call from the poxy useless practice manager here.

I don't even want to ring again as no doubt will be called a bully again.

I phoned his consultant office again and spoke to the secretary there- she is proof some are utter stars as I had to ring about whether with his allergies he can have his HPV this week about a fortnight ago and she didn't mind at all.
I rang as yet again despite it being said on the news this Morning the 1.7 million new shielded as those with lung problems as yet again neither DS or dp are on the list. She was incredulous, saying she will get something sorted so we can keep DS at home from school.
She also said yes, we should be on the carers list and my borough and trust have already started and near on completed that list.
She was so cross that our GP has ignored me again and said "for goodness sake as soon as you can run and go somewhere else, they are bloody useless".
I will call again tomorrow to GP but no doubt it's going to be pointless

Kitkat151 · 22/02/2021 15:34

@Tiktokersmiracle

Still no call from the poxy useless practice manager here.

I don't even want to ring again as no doubt will be called a bully again.

I phoned his consultant office again and spoke to the secretary there- she is proof some are utter stars as I had to ring about whether with his allergies he can have his HPV this week about a fortnight ago and she didn't mind at all.
I rang as yet again despite it being said on the news this Morning the 1.7 million new shielded as those with lung problems as yet again neither DS or dp are on the list. She was incredulous, saying she will get something sorted so we can keep DS at home from school.
She also said yes, we should be on the carers list and my borough and trust have already started and near on completed that list.
She was so cross that our GP has ignored me again and said "for goodness sake as soon as you can run and go somewhere else, they are bloody useless".
I will call again tomorrow to GP but no doubt it's going to be pointless

Have you contacted your CCG ....that’s the first thing I would do
frippit · 22/02/2021 15:42

My drs have now confirmed they have moved me to category six as a carer but still waiting for a vaccine appointment. To get this far it's taken 3 phone calls, 2 e consults and a visit.
Don't give up.

Bluebolt · 22/02/2021 15:44

The problem I think I had with the GPs practice is DS2 and myself do not really have a doctor. I haven’t been for about 5 years other than the nurse and DS2 I cannot even remember. Although he has no health issues he is classed as a complex presentation so has the paediatrician for all his needs and the school nurse. There is no connection at the GP other than notes. I probably would have saved myself a lot of hassle and heartache if I had contacted the paediatrician as professionals tend to have more sway.

frippit · 22/02/2021 16:46

Drs just phoned and offered me a vaccine appointment. Perseverance paid off.
Hope everyone else has an appointment lined up soon.

Kitewoman · 22/02/2021 16:56

still not heard. Contacted the local carers charity who said they would inform the GP but with the new carer vaccine criteria I won't get it now as I don't get carers allowance - my DD gets high rate care DLA and instead of claiming benefits I work when she is on school. So because I work rather than relying on the state, I won't get the vaccine soon. great. Angry

Original poster
Florelei · 22/02/2021 17:01

@Kitewoman - you don’t have to claim carers allowance. If you care for someone who is vulnerable to covid then this also counts.

OP posts:
Kitkat151 · 22/02/2021 17:08

@Kitewoman

still not heard. Contacted the local carers charity who said they would inform the GP but with the new carer vaccine criteria I won't get it now as I don't get carers allowance - my DD gets high rate care DLA and instead of claiming benefits I work when she is on school. So because I work rather than relying on the state, I won't get the vaccine soon. great. Angry
Definately not true ....lyou have been misinformed.....every informal carer I know does not get Carers allowance as they work...they have all had their vaccines no problems
frippit · 22/02/2021 17:14

Kitewoman I work too but you can still apply for carers allowance. I applied and I have a letter from the DWP which says I am entitled to Carers credits. This recognises me as a carer with an underlying entitlement.
I just don't get the actual money as I earn too much.

Kitewoman · 22/02/2021 17:16

[quote Florelei]@Kitewoman - you don’t have to claim carers allowance. If you care for someone who is vulnerable to covid then this also counts.[/quote]
They changed the definition a couple of days ago. It was paid/unpaid carer for anyone who is in need of care and would be impacted of the carer was ill (words to that affect) to:

"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"

so either you need to get carers allowance or you need to look after someone who is CEV.

DC is not CEV and I don't get carers allowance. so we won't get it. With the new criteria, a lot of parent carer of disabled children will go without.

Bluebolt · 22/02/2021 17:17

I emailed my surgery and directly asked their definition of a carer and the eligibility for the purpose of coding and had they changed this only in regards to the covid vaccine and was it inline with JCVI and for this to be put in writing.

BigmouseLittlehouse · 22/02/2021 17:28

@Kitewoman - I have also just seen this change although it isn’t fully clear to me whether a wider category of unpaid carers are still in group 6 and this particular subset is being prioritised?

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