Generic Virus Thread

[AshVilla]

I saw Paul from the chucklebrothers in Asda earlier I said "Oi, Two metre you"

[HanoiVillan]

76 Labour MPs urge pause on ‘no recourse to public funds’ migrant status

'76 Labour MPs have urged the government to temporarily remove the ‘no recourse to public funds’ status held by some migrants for the duration of the coronavirus crisis.

In a letter coordinated by new Labour representative Taiwo Owatemi, a cross-party group of 98 MPs express concern that those with the ‘NRPF’ immigration condition will not be able to follow government health advice.

Anyone with leave to remain in the UK with the NPRF condition cannot currently claim Universal Credit, which the self-employed have been told to apply for if their income has been affected by coronavirus.

As the MPs note in their letter to the Prime Minister sent today, it is “unclear whether funds provided from the Job Retention Scheme will extend to those without recourse to public funds”.'

more on link: https://labourlist.org/2020/03/76-labour-mps-urge-pause-on-no-recourse-to-public-funds-migrant-status/?amp&__twitter_impression=true

I have refrained from discussing this on here since I didn't want to be seen to be whinging, especially since I'm one of the lucky ones who still has employment on my full salary. However, my wife, who is a Canadian national, had zero-hours contracts with two employers and now has nothing. Because she is on the path to citizenship, she has 'No Recourse to Public Funds', which effectively means she is shut out of both Universal Credit and, in all likelihood, the Job Retention Scheme. There are tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people in the same position, and they represent a significant hole in the government's support package.

The assumption has to be that the Tories will do nothing to help people in this position, because they aren't citizens, but it will be of no help if they end up destitute or on the street. My wife will be okay, I can support her, but many many others won't be so lucky.

[Wezbid]

24 minutes ago, bickster said:

Its a myth and it's always taxi drivers that get the finger pointed at them

Most taxi drivers are people between jobs or doing it to fit in with their life because of the hours

A huge chunk of taxi drivers in this country are now rideshare with Uber or Ola and the likes, they can't hide a single penny of income its all through the bank and trust me, they are earning jack shit in the first place. If they take £1000 is fares over the course of a week (thats the top end) - £250 of that goes to Uber before you get into vehicle hire or repairs and depreciation, then theres fuel and insurance. Out of that £1000 they'll be lucky to see £250 a week. The tax threshold is about £220 a week. Where is this massive tax fraud?

But right now, they aren't earning a bean and they'll have to wait until June (yeah right) to see the 80% they were promised today, they'll be in the foodbanks shortly.

Again, more comments like a Daily Mail reader. The maths doesn't add up

 

The £4.5k was from around 12 years ago when that was roughly the annual tax free allowance. 435L tax code or whatever it was. I remember because I used to work in the tax office for 2 years doing nothing but in-putting Self-Assessment tax returns and then moving up to calculating the tax due from or repayment due to the individual or company.

I saw hundreds and hundreds of these doing it day in, day out. I've got no reason to make it up, I'm not bitter. I'm certainly not some Daily Heil reader. I'm a lefty socialist, voted Corbyn, not anti-immigration and all the other shite they stand for. If you want to pigeon hole me like that, fair enough but it's just as cheap as me telling you what I witnessed in my time at the tax office. It was rife with self-assessment returns just teetering on the edge of the personal allowance one way or the other. You can call bullshit on it if you want but it is what it is and I know what I had to input and then tax. 

There were plenty who didn't but there were plenty who did and I pointed out taxi drivers because that was the vast majority of where it was happening. I didn't even know it was a thing that they were an easy target for being called out because I've never had this conversation until today. 

Of course there'll be drivers who are in between jobs but there are plenty for who it is their full time job. My time doing their SA returns was before the days of uber and all that jazz. 

It's fine if you don't believe me but I'm not some bullshitter trying to get people to turn on the small guy. I don't recall ever processing a return where they could realistically live on what they were declaring. 

It will affect those who are honest and those taking the piss and if you want to label me a DM reader for saying there are plenty of the latter, then have it. 

 

 

[Genie]

I know quite a few tradesmen and they have all told me how they only declare up to the tax threshold and none of the cash work goes through the books. I’m sure there are plenty who do it properly too.

[Genie]

Just saw the USA data, in 2 weeks time their fatalities are going to be off the scale.

[Brumstopdogs]

[Xann]

[il_serpente]

1 hour ago, HanoiVillan said:

I couldn't give it a 'like', for obvious reasons, but your last laugh elicited a little bitter chuckle.

I feel for all of the Americans who didn't vote for this clown show though, truly.

60% approve of his handling of the crisis.   There must be a hidden symptom of impaired brain function among the previously assumed asymptomatic, undiagnosed victims.

[OutByEaster?]

The US is in so much trouble - 17,000+ new cases today and the numbers are growing frighteningly quickly - with really poor measures in place to stop it and a President who wants them all back at work pronto, poor healthcare for all but the very rich, no national planning, poor leadership and the gung-ho spirit of the pioneers; Reagan's rugged individuals refusing to have their personal freedoms curtailed. It's a cultural nightmare underpinned by an uncaring economy and it's a recipe for complete disaster.

Poor sods.

 

[Tomaszk]

11 minutes ago, OutByEaster? said:

The US is in so much trouble - 17,000+ new cases today and the numbers are growing frighteningly quickly - with really poor measures in place to stop it and a President who wants them all back at work pronto, poor healthcare for all but the very rich, no national planning, poor leadership and the gung-ho spirit of the pioneers; Reagan's rugged individuals refusing to have their personal freedoms curtailed. It's a cultural nightmare underpinned by an uncaring economy and it's a recipe for complete disaster.

Poor sods.

 

And they've all got guns.

[Dom_Wren]

31 minutes ago, Tomaszk said:

And they've all got guns.

for the zombies!!

[LondonLax]

A tale of two comparable US states:

[Jon]

8 hours ago, LakotaDakota said:

Still the same really, Feel ok for the most part but still out of breath easy & struggle a bit at night, same for you?

Yeah pretty much.  Seems to get a bit better at times, feel like I'm getting over it, and then it'll come and bite me on the arse again.  The less I do, the better it seems to get.  Paracetamol, vapo rub, steam, honey & lemon hot drink, all seem to help.  

Still the breathing & tight chest that are the main issues. 

[Seat68]

7 hours ago, bickster said:

Its a myth and it's always taxi drivers that get the finger pointed at them

Most taxi drivers are people between jobs or doing it to fit in with their life because of the hours

A huge chunk of taxi drivers in this country are now rideshare with Uber or Ola and the likes, they can't hide a single penny of income its all through the bank and trust me, they are earning jack shit in the first place. If they take £1000 is fares over the course of a week (thats the top end) - £250 of that goes to Uber before you get into vehicle hire or repairs and depreciation, then theres fuel and insurance. Out of that £1000 they'll be lucky to see £250 a week. The tax threshold is about £220 a week. Where is this massive tax fraud?

But right now, they aren't earning a bean and they'll have to wait until June (yeah right) to see the 80% they were promised today, they'll be in the foodbanks shortly.

Again, more comments like a Daily Mail reader. The maths doesn't add up

 

my next door neighbour is a private hire driver. She rents a room in a HMO. She is coining it in and clearly playing the long game at hiding her wealth. 

[Awol]

5 hours ago, OutByEaster? said:

The US is in so much trouble - 17,000+ new cases today and the numbers are growing frighteningly quickly - with really poor measures in place to stop it and a President who wants them all back at work pronto, poor healthcare for all but the very rich, no national planning, poor leadership and the gung-ho spirit of the pioneers; Reagan's rugged individuals refusing to have their personal freedoms curtailed. It's a cultural nightmare underpinned by an uncaring economy and it's a recipe for complete disaster.

Poor sods.

 

A failed state inside a military superpower. Some combo.

[snowychap]

I don't know whether the following is relevant for those talking about potential house moves earlier in the thread but:

Quote

UK Finance

Lenders to give three-month mortgage offer extension for home movers impacted by Covid-19

To help home movers impacted by Covid-19, mortgage providers will give customers who have exchanged contracts the option to extend their mortgage offer for up to three months to enable them to move at a later date.

Stephen Jones, Chief Executive of UK Finance, said:

“Lenders recognise that many people looking to move into their new home are facing significant stress and uncertainty due to the impacts of coronavirus. Current social distancing measures mean many house moves will need to be delayed.

...all mortgage lenders are working to find ways to enable customers who have exchanged contracts to extend their mortgage offer for up to three months to enable them to move at a later date.

...

Robin Fieth, Chief Executive of the Building Societies Association (BSA), said:

..."It is possible that some borrowers financial circumstances may change during the three months. If this happens, or the terms of the purchase change we will work closely with the borrower to achieve a sensible outcome."

 

[snowychap]

 

Edited March 27, 2020 by snowychap

[snowychap]

Fauci's new life-saving face mask:

Edited March 27, 2020 by snowychap

[Genie]

14 minutes ago, snowychap said:

I don't know whether the following is relevant for those talking about potential house moves earlier in the thread but:

 

I bet they will, mortgage rates will tumble over the next 3 months so they’re very happy to stop people shopping around.

Edited March 27, 2020 by Genie

[snowychap]

2 minutes ago, Genie said:

I bet they will, mortgage rates will tumble over the next 3 months so they’re very happy to stop people shopping around.

Maybe, though I'm sure I also read that some companies (was it Halifax?) have withdrawn the vast majority of their mortgages such that they're offering max 60% LTV.