Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #42

[Picklebot]

But what if this had not happened, meaning Covid & resulting checks, they would only have normal SS, correct?
I thought SS was somehow interrupted & recipients would no longer get checks. Now I see what is going on, lol. So they are required to file taxes but don’t normally?

Some people on SS don't make enough to be required to file taxes and so they don't. If that's the case they now have to file to be eligible for the stimulus check. I think it's mostly so the government knows they're out there and knows where to send the money.

Some people on SS do file taxes and they don't have to do anything to get the stimulus.

Afaik there's no planned interruption or any danger of SS checks not coming through due to COVID.

 

[otto]

Lol, idk, but one dude sprayed some liquid on my house and vigorously wiped it with a towel, he had a thick island accent, I’m not exactly certain what he attempted to articulate, I only wanted them gone. Interestingly, they did not stop at the neighboring house.

Gypsies!

 

[Picklebot]

Are they enough to pay the bills under normal circumstances, or do people supplement the SS income by working parttime?

Some people do. There's a limit to how much you can make and still be eligible for social security though.

 

[otto]

People are dying of the disease on land as well. They are sheltering in place. Their place is the ship.

Sheltering -in-place sick people get medical care, and dead people are removed from the shelter.

 

[tresir2012]

Only 138 passengers on that ship have US Passports, let them disembark directly into a military base quarantine. The others can be taken to their country of citizenship, Florida already has enough problems of their own.

Where is the figure of 138 with US passports coming from? I have worked it out as follows from the sources posted so far :-

1243 passengers, 305 US, 250 Canadians, 120 Australians and (1243-675) 568 passengers from Ireland, the United Kingdom and other European countries.

 

[TMAN2014]

People are dying of the disease on land as well. They are sheltering in place. Their place is the ship.

So, how long should they stay on the ship? a month? 2 month? 6 months? No one cares? Why not deal with the situation and get it over with? Yeah, of course take precautions, but you can't leave those people out there. Get them back to land, and go from there. They can shelter in place on land. What if someone has a different medical problem where they need to be on land?

 

[NuttMegg]

But what if this had not happened, meaning Covid & resulting checks, they would only have normal SS, correct?
I thought SS was somehow interrupted & recipients would no longer get checks. Now I see what is going on, lol. So they are required to file taxes but don’t normally?

No, a person only on Ss doesn't have to file. Not because it's SS income, rather that they normally wouldn't get into the bracket where they owe taxes. But if they are drawing on retirement income and/or interest they may get to the 25k threshold for owing something. But just SS, it would be hard to get up there, imo, given the standard deduction and a little more for being born before 1955, I IRC.

 

[musicaljoke]

I started prepping mid-February. Just buying double what I would ordinarily buy. Checking my inventory of cleaners and food staples. Bought yeast, flour and sugar. Took me about three weeks. I mentioned it to friends, but no one else acted.

Now I'm in good shape, and some of them are scrambling.

I wonder if you might be a child of someone who went through WWII? I credit my parents with teaching me to be alert, and be prepared. They survived the war in the Netherlands. Dad said that they almost had to drag people to hiding because they simply wouldn't believe the danger they were in.

 

[margarita25]

Alright I’ve started a thread for anyone who wants to get deep into the CARES Act / Stimulus package. Of course we can discuss that in here, but as one whose retail endeavors have been affected, I will now be looking into and studying/learning about all this in depth.

There are a ton of articles on the subject which I will post over there later in an organized fashion (by date), but I wanted you guys to know I’ve gotten the thread started if anyone would like to contribute/join me in learning about this and jump in on the discussion over there. You can also always check back later after I’ve had time to post more content and articles. It’s nap time now.

WS Thread:
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

 

[Trudie]

Are SS checks enough to pay the bills under normal circumstances, or do people supplement the SS income by working parttime?

I need to call my father in MI, he gets a good retirement from Kellogg’s as well as SS. I can’t see how Covid increased his cost of living or his monthly expenses, but I’m not 100% certain. I feel like I’m missing a key factor.
If a person works, even PT, they can draw UI.

 

[cass523]

As of Wednesday evening, the Department of Veterans Affairs has administered nearly 17,000 coronavirus tests, with 1,602 positive results.

The VA health system has recorded 53 deaths, an increase of 12 over Tuesday.

The VA location with the highest number of veteran deaths to date is New Orleans, with 13. The location with the second-highest number is New York City, with 12.
___________________

A British man was formally indicted by American prosecutors on Wednesday on charges of illegally smuggling a purported treatment for COVID-19, the disease associated with coronavirus. He was arrested in London on March 20 and remains in custody there.

The suspect, Frank Richard Ludlow, hawked so-called “Trinity Remedy” kits, repackaging them as “Trinity COVID-19 SARS Antipathogenic Treatment.” Los Angeles-based federal prosecutors said in a statement that Ludlow sold these questionable “cures,” which allegedly contained “vitamin C, an enzyme mix, potassium thiocyanate, and hydrogen peroxide.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that there are no federally-approved “drugs specifically for the treatment of patients with COVID-19.”

More than 1,600 veterans test positive for coronavirus at VA, 53 deaths

 

[Bennettfit]

Where is the figure of 138 with US passports coming from? I have worked it out as follows from the sources posted so far :-

1243 passengers, 305 US, 250 Canadians, 120 Australians and (1243-675) 568 passengers from Ireland, the United Kingdom and other European countries.

This was my source for the the info. Florida Governor Doesn’t Want Cruise Ship Carrying Sick to Dock in State

 

[otto]

I wonder if you might be a child of someone who went through WWII? I credit my parents with teaching me to be alert, and be prepared. They survived the war in the Netherlands. Dad said that they almost had to drag people to hiding because they simply wouldn't believe the danger they were in.

My parents also lived WW2 in the NL. When my mom passed 2 years ago, 5 or 6 of us had to fill up several boxes each to take the food stuff, canned and dried goods home. She had enough to live for a couple of years without much help. She had valuables hidden all over the house, another hangover from the war where you never put all the valuables in one place (in case someone finds some of them).

I didn't hear stories about people being dragged to hiding, I did hear about children vanishing from school, one by one, and the under-group false-papers network.

They taught me how to plant a garden when I was 4 years old, and every summer we planted that garden, harvested the food, prepped it and ate it throughout the year regardless of pandemic. Not many people know how to do that anymore.

 

[tresir2012]

People are dying of the disease on land as well. They are sheltering in place. Their place is the ship.

So if people are sick on an airplane they have to stay on that too? The ship's home port is in Florida and the cruise company is American. These people will also have air tickets onward to their homes, in the US, Canada, Oz and Europe plus passports to afford them that travel. The next thing is that people will be left to die in their homes like those poor old people in their care homes in Spain was it?

 

[Trudie]

Number of Ky. COVID-19 cases rises to 680; 2 more deaths reported

I’m glad our numbers are more reflective of the truth. Hopefully the naysaying group will exercise better judgement.

 

[escape2sc]

Good point! I hadn't thought of that. They don't need the checks, the people who no longer have an income from their job need the checks. Something's wrong with the picture. Why would people on SS who have a sustaining gov't income need a bonus check?

The average retiree Social Security benefit was $1471 in June 2019 and the 401k the retiree counted on to supplement their income just took a nose dive. A lot of retirees had part time jobs to be able to afford to pay their bills and buy groceries but their part time job no longer exists or their hours were drastically cut. Or they supplemented their SS checks by providing day care for family/friends ? If you and your spouse are both receiving Social Security and your spouse dies, you no longer receive both checks - you are only entitled to one. Someone drawing SS has just as much right to a stimulus check and the benefit they paid taxes for as the married couple with decent paying jobs, homes, cars that receive thousands of dollars more in tax refund due to the Earned Income Credit than they had paid in taxes in the last 2 years combined. I would much rather have the Senior Citizens get a little extra money than cruise lines get stimulus money IMO

 

[musicaljoke]

Oh I so agree with this post. I never had any desire myself to take a cruise but these are human beings and shouldn’t be left to fend for themselves.

I agree with you. These people need to get to their homes. There are 250 passengers from Canada. I'm sure Canada has already planned to charter a jet to pick them up, and a charter flight will take 120 Australians. They are also preparing charter flights to California and the United Kingdom. The sooner they get it done, the better for all.

 

[otto]

I need to call my father in MI, he gets a good retirement from Kellogg’s as well as SS. I can’t see how Covid increased his cost of living or his monthly expenses, but I’m not 100% certain. I feel like I’m missing a key factor.
If a person works, even PT, they can draw UI.

Exactly. Those who already receive SS check should be in good shape. The people who are not in good shape are the working class who just lost their income. They need the checks to cover rent and food for a few months.

 

[Really?]

SO... I'm really really glad I stocked the fridge and kept it stocked during this so that when it died today it died carrying a full load! We can't get a new one until Friday and of course they won't deliver it beyond the front porch. So that means somehow getting it to the kitchen ourselves and then an unplanned trip to the grocery store where I doubt we'll find enough to actually refill it.

ARGH!!!

/rant

I'm grateful we were able to easily replace it and it won't break the bank to start refilling it and the new fridge is super nice.

But still.

Yeah, over filling the freezer is a big no no. Not sure if this is what caused your breakdown. Just a PSA to all........stocking tight the fridge.........no problem. Tight stocking ( no air circulation) the freezer will destroy your appliances. Been there, done that. moo

 

[musicaljoke]

IMO, most of us make the right choice when faced with a life or death situation. My husband and I knew better than two go on a two week road trip. Those people willingly rolled the dice despite knowing what the situation was. At some they need to take responsibility for their actions. Who do they expect to pick up the tab, anyways?

Perhaps they are willing to pick up their own tabs, but they have not been given the choice. They are locked in their rooms while the world turns their back. It's utterly sad.