Living with parents on UC!

yorkrose1984

I know the situation is organic and is changing by the day but I was hoping someone maybe able to shed 'any' light on to this question.
I have been claiming UC for around 3 years now and whilst I have been fortunate and not had any major problems (I will send Voodoo Dolls and pins out), I now have a rather 'peculiar' query. I currently live at home (and have no plans whatsoever on moving out), but my parents (despite their protestation) are in the 'aged' bracket, I myself am on a 'shielded list' (but the bottom one I am fat). All this being said, my parents are over 75, thus more vulnerable and given that our local Post Office has been shut for 2 weeks because of COVID (and I got a fine for not paying a fine but that's another story), will I have to look for a job or will I be exempt.
I know official government advice is still that 75+ need to shield and whilst my parents are 'totally' adhering to that (not), I want feel that I should try this 'life preservation' malarky for as long as possible.

Sorry for the verbal diarrhoea but any help would be well, helpful!

sammyjammy

I'm not really clear what your question is?  As soon as the requirements to jobsearch return unless you have specifically been told you should continue to shield I don't see any reason why you would be exempt if that's what you are asking.

wilfred30

I've never heard of anyone being on the shielded list just because they're fat so that's a somewhat strange explanation!

calcotti

Will you be exempt from what? If you mean exempt from having to look for work I don’t see why you would be. You could be looking for work capable of being done from home and from August 1st current advice is that those currently shielding will be able to return to work if the workplace is ‘COVID- safe’. Obviously if you have had a Work Capability Assessment and been found to have a Limited Capability for Work the requirements will be different.

KatrinaWaves

wilfred30 said:

I've never heard of anyone being on the shielded list just because they're fat so that's a somewhat strange explanation!

Initial lists had those with a BMI of 40 and over sent home from my work. 

poppy12345

If you haven't received the NHS shielding letter then you're shielding through choice.

calcotti

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/people-at-higher-risk/whos-at-higher-risk-from-coronavirus/
People with BMI over 40 are listed as at moderate risk rather than high risk - they are not therefore in the ‘shielding’ group.

Spoonie_Turtle

KatrinaWaves said:

wilfred30 said:

I've never heard of anyone being on the shielded list just because they're fat so that's a somewhat strange explanation!

Initial lists had those with a BMI of 40 and over sent home from my work. 

There's the list for clinically vulnerable, who should be practising strict social distancing and hygiene precautions, then there's the list of clinically extremely vulnerable, who were sent the letters advising them to shield. Obesity is in the first category, the same as diabetes. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing#clinically-vulnerable-people
So are over 70s, actually. OP did your parents get a letter telling them to shield?

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19#clinically-extremely-vulnerable-groups

I'm also not sure what the Post Office has to do with anything?

KatrinaWaves

Spoonie_Turtle said:

KatrinaWaves said:

wilfred30 said:

I've never heard of anyone being on the shielded list just because they're fat so that's a somewhat strange explanation!

Initial lists had those with a BMI of 40 and over sent home from my work. 

There's the list for clinically vulnerable, who should be practising strict social distancing and hygiene precautions, then there's the list of clinically extremely vulnerable, who were sent the letters advising them to shield. Obesity is in the first category, the same as diabetes. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing#clinically-vulnerable-people
So are over 70s, actually. OP did your parents get a letter telling them to shield?

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19#clinically-extremely-vulnerable-groups

I'm also not sure what the Post Office has to do with anything?

Oh I agree. After the first lists came out with asthma, diabetes and weight there was hardly anyone left in my workplace. Many of these have returned but not all. Put a lot of strain on the remaining ‘healthy’ staff, and their mental health,  to be honest. 

TheShape

KatrinaWaves said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

KatrinaWaves said:

wilfred30 said:

I've never heard of anyone being on the shielded list just because they're fat so that's a somewhat strange explanation!

Initial lists had those with a BMI of 40 and over sent home from my work. 

There's the list for clinically vulnerable, who should be practising strict social distancing and hygiene precautions, then there's the list of clinically extremely vulnerable, who were sent the letters advising them to shield. Obesity is in the first category, the same as diabetes. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing#clinically-vulnerable-people
So are over 70s, actually. OP did your parents get a letter telling them to shield?

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19#clinically-extremely-vulnerable-groups

I'm also not sure what the Post Office has to do with anything?

Oh I agree. After the first lists came out with asthma, diabetes and weight there was hardly anyone left in my workplace. Many of these have returned but not all. Put a lot of strain on the remaining ‘healthy’ staff, and their mental health,  to be honest. 

Tell me about it.  The number of people in my workplace who said 'I'm a bit fat!' or 'I was a bit out of breath once, must be asthma!' and just switched off their computer and went home (not seen since), no questions asked, was absolutely ridiculous.  The desperate attempts by some to avoid doing any work now after perhaps 8-12 weeks of having been required to complete no work at all are pathetic.

KatrinaWaves

TheShape said:

KatrinaWaves said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

KatrinaWaves said:

wilfred30 said:

I've never heard of anyone being on the shielded list just because they're fat so that's a somewhat strange explanation!

Initial lists had those with a BMI of 40 and over sent home from my work. 

There's the list for clinically vulnerable, who should be practising strict social distancing and hygiene precautions, then there's the list of clinically extremely vulnerable, who were sent the letters advising them to shield. Obesity is in the first category, the same as diabetes. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing#clinically-vulnerable-people
So are over 70s, actually. OP did your parents get a letter telling them to shield?

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19#clinically-extremely-vulnerable-groups

I'm also not sure what the Post Office has to do with anything?

Oh I agree. After the first lists came out with asthma, diabetes and weight there was hardly anyone left in my workplace. Many of these have returned but not all. Put a lot of strain on the remaining ‘healthy’ staff, and their mental health,  to be honest. 

Tell me about it.  The number of people in my workplace who said 'I'm a bit fat!' or 'I was a bit out of breath once, must be asthma!' and just switched off their computer and went home (not seen since), no questions asked, was absolutely ridiculous.  The desperate attempts by some to avoid doing any work now after perhaps 8-12 weeks of having been required to complete no work at all are pathetic.

People who got the flu jab was another one. There is a leisure branch to my work as well which apparently is full of lifeguards about have such severe asthma they have to shield... not sure how that works being in charge of literally having to save lives through fast acting exercise... Don’t get me wrong I want everyone to be safe and healthy and, well alive(!) but I’m definitely grumpy about having the prize of working through the whole thing.

The best thing today was everyone who has been off for shielding or childcare has been given any holidays they had booked off in Mar-June cancelled! So they all have their full holiday entitlement to take when they get back.... hurrah... 

if I sound bitter it’s because I 100% am 🤣