Support bubble question

[MYOB]

I have two young boys, one with respiratory problems. Their mother and I are divorced and the kids split their time between their mother and I 50/50.

My ex has a boyfriend but do not live together. The boyfriend is living with his brother. So two adults in his household.

Is my ex allowed to form a support bubble with her boyfriend?

Thanks.

[Skyrocket21]

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-a-support-bubbl...

"you are a single adult living with one or more children who are under the age of 18 or were under that age on 12 June 2020"

It would appear your Ex can.

I think this is important too, you're probably aware of it.
"If you share custody of a child with someone you do not live with, the child can move freely between both parents’ households. You do not need to form a support bubble to do this"

[MYOB]

Thanks - yes, I'm aware of the link but thanks.

My query is around her boyfriend living with his brother. So that's a household of 2 adults having a bubble with a single parent and kids under 18. Seems reasonable.

However, surely this means the brother is not able to form another bubble?

[Skyrocket21]

I see your point, someone else with more knowledge would be able to answer your question better. Cheers.

[PorkInsider]

MYOB said:

Thanks - yes, I'm aware of the link but thanks.

My query is around her boyfriend living with his brother. So that's a household of 2 adults having a bubble with a single parent and kids under 18. Seems reasonable.

However, surely this means the brother is not able to form another bubble?

That's right. Because bubbles work in terms of households - 2 households can form a bubble if at least one of the households is a single person, or single parent.

The boyfriend's brother is part of the bubble - your ex's household plus her boyfriend's household.

Each household can only be part of one bubble.

[Chester draws]

PorkInsider said:

That's right. Because bubbles work in terms of households - 2 households can form a bubble if at least one of the households is a single person, or single parent.

The boyfriend's brother is part of the bubble - your ex's household plus her boyfriend's household.

Each household can only be part of one bubble.

Not necessarily....

"A childcare bubble is different to a support bubble and a Christmas bubble. Being in a childcare bubble does not stop you from forming a support bubble or a Christmas bubble."

[boyse7en]

Chester draws said:

Not necessarily....

"A childcare bubble is different to a support bubble and a Christmas bubble. Being in a childcare bubble does not stop you from forming a support bubble or a Christmas bubble."

But in this case (and I might be wrong here, but to the best of my understanding) the OP and his ex are a childcare bubble, and then the ex and her new partner are a support bubble along with his brother.
For christmas day, they could all meet up, although that might just be weird 😄

[PorkInsider]

boyse7en said:

But in this case (and I might be wrong here, but to the best of my understanding) the OP and his ex are a childcare bubble, and then the ex and her new partner are a support bubble along with his brother.
For christmas day, they could all meet up, although that might just be weird ??

This.

[MYOB]

I'm confused now with all these bubbles! The kids are allowed at both their mum and myself but I don't think this is called a bubble of any description. I understand childcare bubble is geared more towards grandparents etc.

So I think I was correct in the support bubble issue. The boyfriend and his brother are one support bubble with my ex. No-one else is allowed to form a separate bubble from this one.

But I don't think I would be allowed to join them for Christmas dinner, weird as it would be!

[Chester draws]

Has the op formed a bubble with the ex?

As above, the children can move between the two parents without there needing to be a bubble formed.

Leaving the ex able to form a support / childcare bubble with the boyfriend (and the brother), still allowing the boyfriend & brother to form a childcare / support bubble elsewhere?

[MYOB]

Chester draws said:

Has the op formed a bubble with the ex?

As above, the children can move between the two parents without there needing to be a bubble formed.

Leaving the ex able to form a support / childcare bubble with the boyfriend (and the brother), still allowing the boyfriend & brother to form a childcare / support bubble elsewhere?

As you say, there is no need for any bubble of any description between separated parents. The kids can travel between respective parents.

My ex is allowed to form a support bubble with another household (boyfriend and his brother). The boyfriend has limited access to his child (again, no need for any bubble of any descriptio).

However, the brother is not allowed to form a separate bubble if he has a girlfriend or want to visit their parents etc.

I suspect you're getting muddled with the intention of a childcare bubble, or perhaps I am.

[Chester draws]

PorkInsider said:

.....

......

Each household can only be part of one bubble.

That was the point I was disagreeing with. You can be in more than one "bubble".

(You can't be in more than one support bubble though).

[Amateurish]

MYOB said:

As you say, there is no need for any bubble of any description between separated parents. The kids can travel between respective parents.

My ex is allowed to form a support bubble with another household (boyfriend and his brother). The boyfriend has limited access to his child (again, no need for any bubble of any descriptio).

However, the brother is not allowed to form a separate bubble if he has a girlfriend or want to visit their parents etc.

I suspect you're getting muddled with the intention of a childcare bubble, or perhaps I am.

Your ex can form a support bubble or a childcare bubble with her boyfriend's household.

[mjb1]

MYOB said:

I'm confused now with all these bubbles! The kids are allowed at both their mum and myself but I don't think this is called a bubble of any description. I understand childcare bubble is geared more towards grandparents etc.

So I think I was correct in the support bubble issue. The boyfriend and his brother are one support bubble with my ex. No-one else is allowed to form a separate bubble from this one.

But I don't think I would be allowed to join them for Christmas dinner, weird as it would be!

Yes, that's pretty much correct - they're all in a support bubble together, but you're not in it. Kids can go freely between separated parents without it creating any bubble, but the parents are expected to spend minimal time in contact with each other - during handovers etc.

But your ex's support bubble counts as one household in terms of Christmas bubbles - that could allow up to 6 families to mingle on Christmas day, all within the rules! So as long as you're not in a tier 4 area you should be able to join them on Christmas day.

[MYOB]

mjb1 said:

So as long as you're not in a tier 4 area you should be able to join them on Christmas day.

Mercifully we are in Tier 4.