Carers Allowance/online booking of vaccine

[TheGoodEnoughWife]

It now states that people in receipt of CA can book online for a vaccine (on the very first page) however when I try I check the 'not health care worker or care worker' and it doesn't let me go any further for booking. Has anyone managed to book a vaccine this way yet as a carer receiving CA?

There must be people now who have spent their whole life not knowing their nhs number who can now input it without having to check. My local paper is saying the booking site or the phone number but for carers.

I let my GP know that I am a carer about a month ago. They text me today inviting me to book my vaccine. Can you go via your GP, rather than the booking site? Apologies if I’ve missed something.

I don't lie either so can't with all honesty tick one of the boxes when clicking through. Hopefully it will sorted soon there is a box for us to tick!

My GP is still on group five and not receiving many vaccines. I can travel easily so would happily go to a larger hub somewhere. My GP are also saying so not get in touch regarding the vaccine in any way. Not exactly inviting!

Placemarking as having the same issue

@BastilleBastille

What browser are you using? Are you trying it on a phone? I tried to book using Safari on my iPhone and it wouldn’t work but when I used Brave (a different browser) it worked for me :)

Just tried the Brave browser and it won't accept my name. It says "enter only text" when I type my name

Not sure GPs would have a carers allowance code, just a carers code. If the Gp has invited you then you can book with them.

Now I’m really confused about this . Can someone clarify?

I have my vaccine booked next week as a carer for DD. I booked through 119.

Now in usual times DH is the main carer for DD and myself . BUT for the past year during lockdown and homeschooling , I have been DD main carer as DH is working from home. I mainly care for DD in a supervisory role as I have care needs myself but over the last year I absolutely care for her more than 35 hours per week (mainly supervision but also basic care depending on my own situation).

I have an underlying entitlement to the vaccine as group 6 for my own health condition but my GP has to do this (they are still on group 5 and haven’t had a delivery of vaccine for a couple of weeks so it will be a while).

Neither DH or myself receive carers allowance (DH earns too much) and I don’t claim it because I claim PIP and in usual times , DH is DD main carer (still with me?)

I am coded as a carer for DD on my GP records.

The agent said I need to take proof that I’m sole carer but neither of us claim carers allowance so now I’m wondering if I’ll be turned away?

@Boulshired

Not sure GPs would have a carers allowance code, just a carers code. If the Gp has invited you then you can book with them.

That is true, but many GPs are asking for evidence of CA to code us as carers (mine did).

@InbetweenUpsideDown

Now I’m really confused about this . Can someone clarify?

I have my vaccine booked next week as a carer for DD. I booked through 119.

Now in usual times DH is the main carer for DD and myself . BUT for the past year during lockdown and homeschooling , I have been DD main carer as DH is working from home. I mainly care for DD in a supervisory role as I have care needs myself but over the last year I absolutely care for her more than 35 hours per week (mainly supervision but also basic care depending on my own situation).

I have an underlying entitlement to the vaccine as group 6 for my own health condition but my GP has to do this (they are still on group 5 and haven’t had a delivery of vaccine for a couple of weeks so it will be a while).

Neither DH or myself receive carers allowance (DH earns too much) and I don’t claim it because I claim PIP and in usual times , DH is DD main carer (still with me?)

I am coded as a carer for DD on my GP records.

The agent said I need to take proof that I’m sole carer but neither of us claim carers allowance so now I’m wondering if I’ll be turned away?

The guidance I linked upthread said vaccine centres should not ask for proof. You should be fine.

@ViperAtTheGatesOfDawn thank you .

From a moral point of view does it seem like I’m entitled to get the vaccine now then based on our situation?

The agent wouldn’t have been able to book me in without it being coded on the GP system would he?

The person I care for doesn’t get PIP and I get CA and I’ve had my vaccine. You need to make sure their GP (we are same one) knows you are registered as carer your details and they’ll text link that’s how I got mine

My next door neighbour booked online this morning as carer for her dad.

[quote InbetweenUpsideDown]@ViperAtTheGatesOfDawn thank you .

From a moral point of view does it seem like I’m entitled to get the vaccine now then based on our situation?

The agent wouldn’t have been able to book me in without it being coded on the GP system would he?[/quote]
Absolutely and yup, the coding must have been right.

Just to chime in to say both DH and I are classed as carers for DD1 and have had our first jab.

We are registered with our GPs as carers (different surgeries and we called to check, no evidence needed but they do know our daughter) and were both invited for appointments in the past week.

I had my appointment organised over the phone whilst DH received a text to invite him to book online.

The letter is unclear with the carers allowance it implies to let they know they can book, not inform the GP to be coded. So the DWP are involved or their will be quite a few trying to book then finding out the need to get a GP code

@Thoughtcontagion did you have to provide any evidence of carer status?

It's all a bit of a mess wrt carers and the vaccine.

It certainly highlights how many of us are completely invisible.

I wonder about the evidence is not required for the carers allowance if it has come from the DWP it has already been approved so at the most an ID will be needed. It might not be the same for bookings made a different way.

Yes I agree!

I don’t think the current government has anyone who has any understanding at all of caring or of disabilities actually

I’m not sure they even know what constitutes a carer

I know a lot of parents of very severely disabled children who are full time carers (and unpaid nurses and so many other things to their children) who are being told, wrongly, that they’re not eligible in group 6. It’s so frustrating that everything is always a fight when you’re tired and hanging on by a thread half the time already

Agree dogshow

Sorry for the rant. Anyway, hope the booking system works soon!

@Thedogshow rant away! That is so frustrating and it does feel (and I know plenty of GP surgeries are amazing however...) that some interpret the guidelines in their own way and this is very unfair! I have emailed mine with a screen shot of my CA letter and heard nothing back. Although as I have said mine have very few vaccines delivered this week.
You read that some of the large hubs are not full or at capacity and I just think 'Me! I will happily travel!' Please book me in! Lol