Carnival
in Tenerife, Canary Islands
What
kind of expat are you?
You
might not like the idea that you can be put into a category
or 'type' but the fact is that we all have certain
characteristics by which we can be labelled.
In 'The Local' they have put together 11 different
'types' of expat, what characterises them and what their
hopes are for the future. Which is your best fit?
thelocal.es
Could
you benefit from the new health scheme?
We
know how important health care is and how confusing
it has been for expats under a certain age to access
it. For some, there has been a period of uncertainty
since the Valencian health care scheme
stopped accepting new participants.
There was also some confusion when it was announced
that if you had been a resident before 2012 you
were eligible for health care provided you weren't receiving
it anywhere else and didn't qualify amongst the super
rich.
Now another new scheme has been launched that, similar
to the old Valencian scheme, allows early retirees,
and those not otherwise eligible, to access national
health care in Spain. Find out here what the Costa
Blanca News have to say about it:
costa-news.com
WIf
you can read Spanish then this link will provide more
detailed information:
gva.es
Still
leading on transplants
Spain
has an enviable reputation when it comes to organ transplants.
The latest news is that it recently set the transplant
record with 45 in one day. One of these was the transplantation
of a pancreas.
There's too much bad press about Spain, so let's celebrate
something to be proud of:
thelocal.es
Do
you feel more emotional in the sun?
We
usually associate sunlight with positive feelings.
There's a sense of wellbeing when the sun is shining
on us; when you have to squint you have to smile too!
However, in this turn around of thinking, the Independent
reports some interesting research. It suggests that
bright sunlight can actually increase rather than decrease
depression. As sunlight heightens all emotions,
why should depression be exempt?
It's an interesting perspective and might make you want
to dim the lights if you've an important decision
to make:
independent.co.uk
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Must
you make a resident tax declaration in Spain?
If
you are a resident in Spain the rules around whether
you should make a resident tax declaration can be confusing.
Misleading information has sometimes been published
that there is a threshold of 22,000€. This is not the
case for many people. In our article we clarify for
you whether you must make one or not.
abacoadvisers.com
Up
and away with electricity bills
The
price of electricity continues to be a huge concern
for those owning property in Spain.
Many families are already having difficulty obtaining
sufficient work to pay their bills. The increasing
cost of what must be considered an essential is
crippling an increasing number.
In this article from Expatica, we hear just how great
the problem is becoming and how more and more are speaking
out:
expatica.com
In
Spain Explained we provide some of the background
to this very thorny issue:
abacoadvisers.com
Have
you checked the date on your passport recently?
Keeping
your passport handy is very important when you are in
Spain. Although many places will take other proof
of identity such as a Spanish driving licences,
some won't.
We were made aware recently of an unfortunate situation
where a deceased person couldn't be removed to hospital
until his passport was found and his status as
a resident or non-resident confirmed.
It is a timely, if tragic, reminder of just how important
it is to make sure you have your passport close by,
and, of course, that it is valid.
You should be aware that arrangements for renewing British
passports have changed. The article below from OnThePulse,
provides more details of the new arrangements for how
to apply for a British passport online:
onthepulse.es
Do
you like Gordon Ramsay?
In
case you are blissfully unaware, Gordon Ramsay is an
ex-footballer turned master chef who is frequently on
British and American TV screens, urging (not very politely)
cooks and restaurant owners to do better.
He's a bit of a love him or hate him character. However
you feel about Gordon Ramsay you might be interested
to watch him as he targets expat restaurant owners
on the Costa del Sol. Apparently he will be filming
in May and June and if you are a resident restauranteur
you might want a little help yourself. The show producers
are apparently looking for restaurants, hotels and B
& Bs to take part:
theolivepress.es
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