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?

[quote TheGoodEnoughWife]@whataballbag seeing subtle differences to treatment depending on when or who you ask/see and that is so frustrating! I do think in any of these situations you get some power happy people who run away with be in charge. Unfortunately.

Like you say a different hour and it might have all been good. I have seen so many reports of partners/husbands/wives/family members getting their jab by going along with someone else and then you being turned away! [/quote]
Exactly, it's ridiculous and incredibly disheartening.

I have severe health anxiety so the jab is a huge load off my mind too.

whataballbag that is heartbreaking.
With the carers allowance you have already verified entitlement so no documentation needed other than proof of identification. Should be the same with GPs coding. It is a problem with sites that self book as they are more likely to want proof with no idea of what accounts for proof other than CA.

@EnoughnowIthink

Heads up anyone booking at the blackburn vaccine centre they won't let you in without proof of Carers allowance etc

I’m sorry you were turned away. The website did say they will require proof. The centre I attended didn’t ask for it - wasn’t Blackburn.

I didn't see that part, just the unpaid Carers part. But the email I got confirming the booking didn't ask me to bring anything with me. The only benefits my dad gets is ESA but not sure that's enough 'proof'.

Short of dragging him with me with me and saying 'look, here's the poorly man' I'm not sure what else I could do.

Even more of a kick in the teeth as I'm still going out to work and kids due back at school soon so can't even sheild to protect him a little more.

@Boulshired

whataballbag that is heartbreaking. With the carers allowance you have already verified entitlement so no documentation needed other than proof of identification. Should be the same with GPs coding. It is a problem with sites that self book as they are more likely to want proof with no idea of what accounts for proof other than CA.

I did call the doctors infront of them who confirmed I was coded as a carer too. But apparantly it's easier for the doctors to code me as a carer as it's a small family surgery and they know my dad and I quite well, and are aware I look after him

Do you have to wait for an invite? Just rang gp for my nhs number and they said if I havent been invited it might not go through? She sounded quite annoyed. My daughter has cerebral palsy and asd but isnt eligible as she's under 16 so I'm just trying to do what I can

@SabrinaTheMiddleAgedBitch do you receive CA? If you do then you can book online through the nhs.

If you don't then you should still be in Group 6 and plan of action should be make sure you are coded as a carer with your GP and wait for them to contact you.

It’s DISGRACEFUL that people are being turned away from the vaccination centres. The SOP from the NHS issued on Saturday is clear - you don’t need any proof other than being either eligible for CA or coded as a carer with your GP Practice.

Staff not following their own organisation’s published standards are directly putting vulnerable people at risk of further harm.

This makes me so angry. I am booked in at a local vaccination site tomorrow and am having to spend an hour today compiling a list of evidence to take with me. I shouldn’t have to do this but it’s another worry!

[quote TheGoodEnoughWife]@SabrinaTheMiddleAgedBitch do you receive CA? If you do then you can book online through the nhs.

If you don't then you should still be in Group 6 and plan of action should be make sure you are coded as a carer with your GP and wait for them to contact you. [/quote]
I do, thank you. Gp receptionist was a bit snotty and it made me feel like I was being grabby But I can't get my daughter vaccinated so it's the next best option

@Florelei

It’s DISGRACEFUL that people are being turned away from the vaccination centres. The SOP from the NHS issued on Saturday is clear - you don’t need any proof other than being either eligible for CA or coded as a carer with your GP Practice.

Staff not following their own organisation’s published standards are directly putting vulnerable people at risk of further harm.

This makes me so angry. I am booked in at a local vaccination site tomorrow and am having to spend an hour today compiling a list of evidence to take with me. I shouldn’t have to do this but it’s another worry!

It's disgusting and I honestly feel like I'm being penalised for choosing to work

@SabrinaTheMiddleAgedBitch Attitudes like the one you received is unacceptable, it is like the GPs have ownership of the vaccine and deal them out in a way they see fit instead of a national roll out of a vaccine!

The whole thing is frustrating. My main hope is that CA folk can funnel through the nhs hubs and free up GP vaccine appointments for coded carers but I totally get that the whole database of coded carers should be sent over to the national booking site.
This should be an easy thing to do but I suspect there are 'gatekeepers' who don't see the importance of Carers getting their vaccine.

it’s DISGRACEFUL that people are being turned away from the vaccination centres

There have been various news reports about people with no vulnerabilities and no caring responsibility getting the vaccine because they made a decision to try and book to see if they could get away with it. How are staff supposed to know who genuinely cares and who doesn't? If they don't make a stand, genuine carers are going to get missed, I guess.

@whataballbag
I have just cut and paste from the website - based on this, I am not sure ESA would be enough evidence at the moment.

'It is very important that you only book an appointment if:

you are 18 years or older
you are clinically extremely vulnerable
you have not had a positive Covid test within 28 days
you have not had onset of Covid symptoms within 28 days
you are not pregnant
OR

you provide care for someone and they or you receive funding for that care*

*At this point in the vaccination programme, to be eligible as a carer you will need to provide evidence at your appointment that you receive funding as a carer for example Carer’s Allowance or be able to evidence benefits for those you care for (examples include: Attendance Allowance, Disability Benefit, Personal Independence Payment or Disability Living Allowance). If the person you care for is a family member and receives funding you are still eligible for vaccination now, the provision of care does not have to be your main employment or occupation. If you are not able to provide evidence, you will not be able to have your vaccination'

@EnoughnowIthink

Heads up anyone booking at the blackburn vaccine centre they won't let you in without proof of Carers allowance etc

I’m sorry you were turned away. The website did say they will require proof. The centre I attended didn’t ask for it - wasn’t Blackburn.

The site on Facebook states that carers can book, but if you look at the 3 individual sites it says 65+ and CEV only. Very frustrating. Plus, there are other big NHS sites in Lancashire that you can’t book at.

Someone had commented on Facebook as to how people without health problems or caring responsibilities are booking on for Blackpool and getting jabbed. They are not being checked.

@DinosaurDiana

Someone had commented on Facebook as to how people without health problems or caring responsibilities are booking on for Blackpool and getting jabbed. They are not being checked.

The irony is that I can't travel that far incase I'm needed back at home quickly 😬

@DinosaurDiana I have quoted the above from one of the Lancashire sites?

I live in Cheshire and have managed to book a vaccine.

I plan on taking my CA award letter and my sons DLA award letter.

@AwFeebs

I live in Cheshire and have managed to book a vaccine.

I plan on taking my CA award letter and my sons DLA award letter.

That will definitely be enough :)

All booked. Now dealing with worrying about horrible side effects and not being able to provide any care Never stops does it

@SabrinaTheMiddleAgedBitch you may be lucky and not get any, I know a few who haven't, including my dad.

He definitely would have let me know if he did get side effects too. Starting to think he likes the attention

I think the website is set up to book only people in receipt of carer's allowance and the national service will have been sent that data. My husband is in receipt of CA and this morning it took him two minutes to book both his appointments - first one tomorrow.

Unpaid carers not in receipt of CA are being handled through the primary care network. I'm registered as a carer with my GP and so I think I will just have to wait a week or so for them to get round to me.

It's frustrating, but probably best that we aren't being vaccinated at the same time, so we can take turns to deal with the side effects.

@EnoughnowIthink thanks so much for the cut and paste. My son has ASD, gets DLA. I don’t get carers allowance because I work part time and enough too much. Thought I would have to wait until GP called, do you think it’s possible to book through NHS and use his DLA as proof?

Does anybody get this message:

You need to book both of your appointments again
You were unable to go to/missed your 1st appointment to get the coronavirus vaccination

I never had an invite so definitely did not miss anything. And then when I want to book, it links me to front line workers in health and social care (which I am not).

@TheAvenger Not here no, maybe a blip on the site? What about exiting all pages, then going back in?

@verybusyknitter I’m not sure it’s 100% that unpaid carers are being handled by GPs.

I’m an unpaid carer and managed to book at a vaccine centre through 119.

Slightly worried I’m going to be turned away now though as I have no proof of caring other than DDs DLA (in husbands name as he made the application) and evidence of my own entitlement to PIP.

I've just managed to book online for next week, I receive CA and as others have said I think the dwp must have provided details of claimants, those not claiming will presumably be able to book when notified by the gp. I wish my cv daughter could be booked in though, they haven't made any bookings for group 6 here yet.