Yes, it has been a whole year! A year full of historic changes but also a year of setbacks and stagnation. This one-year anniversary of lockdown is not really a milestone to celebrate, but we should still give ourselves a pat on the back for getting through it. Perhaps the clocks changing and bringing us lighter evenings have something to do with it, but I definitely feel like a change is really coming this time. I am planning to take it super slow and enter this new world with trepidation; as although I am delighted that relative normaliyy is in our near future, I am not certain I am ready for it just yet.
But in the meantime I am going to try and get my house in order, both figuratively and literally. Spring has sprung, which is the perfect time to clear the cobwebs and get organized as before we know it we will be back to business as usual. I am feeling very pleased with myself this week as I have already filed my taxes. They are usually due by April 15th but the government just announced they will be extending this for a month. So you now have until May 17th to get yours sorted. If you are not sure whether you need to file a tax return visit this link to the IRS questionnaire which will help you determine your status: https://tinyurl.com/ykrzvvaw
I did a dummy run and answered all of the questions and I can assure you they don’t ask anything that could identify you. I even put in the wrong date of birth, but it didn’t matter as the questions they ask are very generic. Visit our Facebook group @BritsinLA if you have both UK and US taxes to file but don’t know where to begin, as lots of other members are sharing advice and recommendations over there. If you are not on Facebook drop us a line at BritsinLA@gmail.com and we will try to help you.
A few people I have spoken to didn’t realize that they were eligible for the economic stimulus payments, but as long as you are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or qualifying resident alien you should be receiving them. I just learned this week that homeless people also qualify, so if you happen to be between addresses and/or didn’t have an income or file taxes 2020, don’t assume this means you will be denied a cheque. Visit the IRS website to learn more, via the shortened link I created tinyurl.com/BritsinLAIRS.
I didn’t realize until afterwards that Brits in LA combined with the word IRS would create the ominous sounding phrase ‘Brits in Lairs’!
Rent relief news was finally announced this week – and not a moment too soon! I am fortunate enough to still be in a position to pay my rent although I know many of my neighbors aren’t. I can’t believe it has take 12 months for California to come up with a relief plan. I know there has been a moratorium on evictions but I don’t think that extended to helping the landlords with their mortgage payments. This rent relief program was launched on March 15th and is hoping to help all parties, if for some reason you don’t qualify don’t despair as local municipalities are expected to set local programs in motions soon.
Visit housing.ca.gov/covid_rr/ for details and drop us a line if you are having trouble navigating the site. Don’t forget that our friends at the British Benevolent Society are also offering grants to Brits in need, if you haven’t applied for help already visit www.bbsofca.org/get-help/. I know it is hard asking for help, but please don’t be too proud. Once you are back on your feet you can be in a position to help others
If you are looking for some light entertainment to distract you make sure to join us for our weekly virtual quiz night via Zoom. It is every Tuesday and is free to play, plus the winner receives a gift card to spend at The Cat and the Fiddle. Next week a few of us are attempting to break a Guinness World Record by eating three Jacobs Cream Crackers in less than a minute!
Details can be found at www.Britsin.LA or email me at eileen@britsin.la and I will point you in the right direction.
Don’t forget the clocks go forward in the UK at the end of the month – so for a brief interlude we are only seven hours apart !
Cheers!
Eileen
