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Covid

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Original poster

Vaccine for carers

22 replies

Staffy1 · 28/02/2021 00:02

The NHS vaccine booking site seems to indicate that anyone who gets carers allowance can now book a vaccination. Does anyone know if carers who don't get carers allowance can book as well? I used to get it but it was stopped when I got a part time job with a salary that was above the amount you are allowed to earn to get the allowance. As it's in school hours nothing else changed. I still spend the same amount of hours caring, so it's only the fact that I now earn a bit and therefore don't receive the allowance that seems to be excluding me from qualifying for the vaccine.

OP posts:

Symbion · 28/02/2021 02:31

Yes our GP surgery's website has a big banner telling unpaid carers to make sure they are identified as such, so that they can be included in group 6. You don't need carer's allowance to qualify. Hope you get your jab soon.

CovidPostingName · 28/02/2021 07:32

You can't book through the website no, but if you're child receives DLA you have an underlying advertisement to CA and if you phone 119 you may be able to book that way for a hub. You definitely qualify for group 6 but you need to make sure your gp has coded that properly on your records. It's a bit of a mess for carers not in receipt of CA tbh, there are many hundreds of thousands of us and we're at the personal whim of gp surgeries. See the many threads on this already, it's heartbreaking. I'll be called to a hub by age long before my gp gets through group 6 I suspect.

itispersonal · 28/02/2021 07:43

Our NHS trust uses swift queue , I could book an appointment as an unpaid carer through that!

hopeishere · 28/02/2021 07:48

In Ni they opened the bookings to anyone who identified as a carer do not necessarily in receipt of carers allowance. But they then suspect loads of people just booked on so it's closed again.

Carers allowance is an inaccurate way of calculating who is a carer. I'm a "carer" for DS who has SN and DH who is CEEEV!! But don't get carers allowance.

tenthingsihateaboutstew · 28/02/2021 07:56

I don't get carers allowance but my son receives DLA and I was automatically invited for my vaccine under the unpaid carers group. I was quite surprised but I called the helpline and it was correct.

fightingSmiths · 28/02/2021 08:10

You don't need to get CA but you need to be coded correctly as a carer at the GP surgery. Somehow, this data is linked to the booking website. If it doesn't let you book on the website, there is your clue that the GP has not coded you as a carer. So chase that up with your GP surgery.

seven201 · 28/02/2021 08:26

I was in a pharmacy that is vaccinating yesterday and a lady came in and asked the same question. She was told that currently she won't be offered the vaccine, it's paid (carers allowance) carers only. It's interesting to read that it's not the same across the country!

beckypv · 28/02/2021 08:38

I think paid carers can access hubs through the National website as they will already have that coded on their records. Unpaid carers will have to rely on GPs regarding them as that, and then they will be offered jabs in groups 6 and the GP hubs. Sadly the GP hubs are a bit of a lottery in terms of speed, priority, and who they put into each category. I am having my jab today after getting a gp text on Friday. I was surprised to get it, but I am a carer to my son who has health issues. My neighbour has asthma and has also been told she will be in group 6 but has not had it yet. Group 6 is very large and complicated so will take time. I hadn’t asked about getting the jab so I presume they have just flagged up parents of vulnerable children as that is an easy section to define.

MinnieJackson · 28/02/2021 09:02

Yes I got a letter yesterday and I have to book online, I care for my mum. My husband got the same letter as he cares for our son.

MrsFezziwig · 28/02/2021 09:06

My friend is registered at her GP surgery as unpaid carer for her elderly father and accessed an appointment that way. I think she had to wait for the GP invitation to book though, she couldn’t book online.

Sockwomble · 28/02/2021 09:19

For carers who do not get carers allowance it is by GP invitation and separate booking system.

fightingSmiths · 28/02/2021 09:26

@Sockwomble

For carers who do not get carers allowance it is by GP invitation and separate booking system.

I don't think it is. I know a number if carers not on CA and they booked via the website.

LyndaLaHughes · 28/02/2021 09:31

It depends on your hub- sometimes you are able to register direct yourself. Check if they have their own regular system at local level separate from the NHS main system. My own trust and a neighbouring one allow this. There was an option for "I receive carer's allowance or I the main carer for an elderly or disabled person"so check. Otherwise you need to get registered with your GP as an unpaid carer.

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 28/02/2021 09:35

sounds a horrendous mess! At least the rate they're powering through with half million a day, your should get it soon regardless.

Cookie9214 · 28/02/2021 09:38

You need to resister as a carer with your gp. Really simple to do most of the time. You can ring but they are busy so many an e-consult. It probably differs between surgeries.

extentioncord · 28/02/2021 09:39

@seven201

People who get carers allowance are unpaid carers. Paid carers refers to those who work as carers and are in a juggler group than the unpaid carers. It's nothing to do with the money. Carers allowance has enabled identification of many, for those who don't claim the GP needs to get you coded as a cater.

extentioncord · 28/02/2021 09:40

A HIGHER group!

Original poster

Staffy1 · 28/02/2021 12:46

Thanks everyone. I registered with the GP at the start of February, or dropped the form in then, whether they have actually registered me is another thing. I can't book through the nhs covid booking site, it asks me if I a frontline health or social worker and when I answer no to that, it tells me I'm not eligible, even though the front page says carers (the catch is in receipt of carers allowance) can book. Will try the other ways suggested, or phone the GP surgery tomorrow (which gives me high blood pressure even thinking about it).

OP posts:

Original poster

Staffy1 · 28/02/2021 13:12

Wasn't able to on swiftqueue, but was able to through 119, for two weeks time. Thanks everyone.

OP posts:

Szboox · 28/02/2021 16:23

@Staffy1

Wasn't able to on swiftqueue, but was able to through 119, for two weeks time. Thanks everyone.

Can I just ask re ringing 119 to book? I’m an unpaid carer to my elderly parents and am desperate to book a vaccine, as am a teacher too. Was it easy to simple to book through 119? I’m not in receipt on carers allowance , but I care for them most days as mum has broken her spine.

Original poster

Staffy1 · 28/02/2021 17:43

@Szboox, yes it was very easy. Just let them know you are a carer. Are you registered as one with your GP, as that is one thing they asked? I filled in a registration form at the beginning of February with the GP, although don't know if it's been updated in their system yet.

OP posts:

Original poster

Staffy1 · 28/02/2021 17:50

@tenthingsihateaboutstew

I don't get carers allowance but my son receives DLA and I was automatically invited for my vaccine under the unpaid carers group. I was quite surprised but I called the helpline and it was correct.

That's interesting. My son gets DLA as well, but I've not been recognised as a carer by the GP for the flu vaccine, so I assume they have never really had me flagged as one.

OP posts:

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