BetterMost Community Blogs > Cellar Scribblings
Cellar Scribblings
CellarDweller:
Hiya BetterMost friends!!!!
How is everyone doing?
Today was the first jab for me. My arm is a little bit sore, but other than that, no major issues. My dad (he went with me today for his first vaccine too) said his arm isn't even hurting.
My job is also giving everyone 8 hours pay that they are calling Vaccination Pay, so on the days you get the vaccine, you can take the afternoon off to get your vaccine, and be paid.
I took four hours of the vaccine time today, but when I got home, I still signed on to get some work done (but I left my out-of-office on, so I could focus on what I needed to do, and not get bothered by others.
At 4:30, I had an appointment to get my taxes done, and I'm getting a nice chunk of change back. On top of my usual refund (which was a little higher) I will finally be getting the stimulus payments from last year. When I went to file my taxes last year (I go through H&R Block) I had not yet received the first two stimulus payments. Anytime I tried to call on it, I would get the runaround. So, when I filed, I explained the situation to my rep at H&R Block, and she got on the phone while I was there, with the IRS.
The rep at the IRS looked into my file, and for some reason, it was stating I was still a dependent. Not sure how that happened, since I was 51, but Ok. :laugh: They corrected the issue, and I was told I would get the stimulus "next year" (meaning 2021).
So when the next round of stimulus payments went out, once again, I didn't get it. When I filed today, the correction was made and the stimulus was added to the total of my refund, and they explained that the payment I didn't get this year, I would get next year when I file.
CellarDweller:
--- Quote from: serious crayons on March 31, 2021, 08:48:32 am ---I'm looking for a vaccine myself. I signed up with some state app that's supposed to alert me if there's one available in my area (like leftover vaccine that would otherwise be thrown out) but I've never heard from it. I tried my usual clinic a couple of days ago but apparently you can only make an appointment on a Thursday or Friday the week before, and they fill up fast. I tried Walgreen's and CVS; both have a list of nearby locations and they all say NO APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE. I tried Walmart, they say I don't qualify.
How do all these people keep getting them? I don't mean your family, Chuck, the fact that you've already had it maybe helps, or that your dad is older. But I see lots of random people on Facebook who've gotten it -- how do they do it? Seems like it would be a full-time job.
--- End quote ---
--- Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on March 31, 2021, 09:05:11 am ---This has been my question for, like, forever. I keep running across people, usually from work, who are definitely younger than me, and they've been fully vaccinated. Hunh? How is that? I don't know how they even get an appointment, let alone qualify for vaccination.
Of course, I'm in a living situation where New Jersey seems to have one set of rules, Pennsylvania has another set of rules, and Philadelphia has its own set of rules for qualification. Cross the city line here, and you've got a whole 'nother set of rules for qualification.
Now Joe wants everybody to be able to get an appointment after April 19. Um, Joe, are you kidding? Considering how difficult it is to get an appointment now, what's it going to be like when everybody tries to get an appointment?
--- End quote ---
--- Quote from: serious crayons on March 31, 2021, 09:23:56 am ---Good point!
Here, the governor said anyone over 16 is eligible. But then there are also still supposedly some priority groups -- the usual ones like frontline workers, underlying conditions, etc. But now being over 50 is supposed to be a priority, yet somehow the Walmart's questionnaire doesn't even ask your age. (I've only been in a Walmart a few times decades ago. Now I have even less reason to go.) When even the priority age was people over 65, I knew plenty of people at least slightly younger than that who were getting them.
--- End quote ---
I'm not sure how the systems are set up in your states. In NJ there is a website for my county, and between 8:00 and 8:30 each morning, the page is refreshed, and new open appointment slots are posted. So you log on first thing in the morning, and keep refreshing the page until the new information loads. Once the new information appears, it's a race to get a spot, as they are limited.
My brother Mike got the vaccine because he's a police officer, so he is essential.
Mom and dad were able to register because of their age. Dad got his first jab today with me.
Chris and I have the underlying conditions. Nothing major, but we qualify, so we were able to register. Chris and mom get their first jabs tomorrow.
brianr:
I have an American friend in my walking group. She married a Kiwi and has lived here for perhaps 30 years. She was telling me on Tuesday that she receives the US stimulus cheques but had trouble depositing them in her bank. Most (all by June) of our banks have stopped dealing with cheques. They told her to have the US IRD send it direct to her bank. She rang and was surprised to be answered after a few rings, and they redirected her and again only a few rings. They could not send it to an overseas bank so she returned to hers and, after a lot of fuss involving nearly everyone in the office, they accepted it.
I was surprised as, although I receive an Australian pension, I do not get any of the stimulus payments as I am not a resident.
My sister and brother-in- law received yesterday four vouchers of $25 to be used at restaurants or entertainment venues. They have received other amounts before.
In NZ everyone receiving a pension, aged, disability etc receives $20 per week heating allowance from May to September. Last year it was doubled to $40 per week but I do not think that will happen this year.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: CellarDweller on March 31, 2021, 06:19:51 pm ---Today was the first jab for me. My arm is a little bit sore, but other than that, no major issues. My dad (he went with me today for his first vaccine too) said his arm isn't even hurting.
--- End quote ---
I saw a coworker yesterday who said he just got the shot and the whole top half of his body hurt and he was going to take off work after our assignment was over. He's in his 20s. There was a woman of around 60 there who said she'd had no problems with hers. I wonder if age has something to do with the reaction. My coworker said something about young immune systems fighting back harder.
--- Quote ---My job is also giving everyone 8 hours pay that they are calling Vaccination Pay, so on the days you get the vaccine, you can take the afternoon off to get your vaccine, and be paid.
--- End quote ---
We get that, too. It's part of the 80 hours they give us to use if we get COVID. Hopefully, I'll only need mine for my shot. The news about the "new surge" is scary. I'd be so mad if I knew anyone who got sick or even died because there's such a bottleneck here to get the damn shots.
--- Quote --- I had not yet received the first two stimulus payments. ... So when the next round of stimulus payments went out, once again, I didn't get it. When I filed today, the correction was made and the stimulus was added to the total of my refund, and they explained that the payment I didn't get this year, I would get next year when I file.
--- End quote ---
I got the first $1,200 and nothing since then. I know I'll get the $600 one when I file my taxes. But it makes me mad that we have to wait until sometime in 2022 to get the $1,400. For one thing, I could use the cash now (I'm getting my home ready to sell again and there are some expenses involved). For another, I know inflation is low, but still -- by sometime in 2022 $1,400 will be worth more than it is now. If we waited an extra year to pay $1,400 to the IRS we'd be charged interest and penalties. >:(
brianr:
I understood a stimulus payment is to stimulate the economy NOW. That is why in Australia and NZ it is given to those on benefits as they are more likely to spend it rather than save it.
In NZ everyone over 65 receives the full age pension, it is not means tested as in Australia. We were told we could give the heating allowance (doubled last year) back but although I do not need it, I am not that generous to the government. Because I cannot travel overseas, my savings have gone up. I did buy a new 50 inch smart TV last July but I do not need it really. I have taken more trips within NZ than usual. Really I am not that interested in spending other than on travel.
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