We’ve curated some of the topics trending on the web regarding independent contractors over the last month.
Student Debt Forgiveness
If you are one of the 43 million people who will have some or all of your student debt forgiven, there are some important deadlines to be aware of.
Early October 2022––Once the application is released, fill it out to formally request debt forgiveness.
November 15, 2022––the deadline the Department of Education has recommended to get your application turned in to ensure it is processed before the payment pause ends on December 31.
If you have been paying your loans off despite the payment pause, you can request a refund from your loan provider by calling them directly. That money is then eligible for forgiveness.
Have more questions? This NPR article and this article from Fatherly probably have the answers!
Something to note: if you live in North Carolina, Indiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, or California, you may owe taxes on your forgiveness. Here is more information.
Late taxes during the pandemic? You may get a refund.
If you filed your 2019 or 2020 tax return late and paid a fee, you should receive an automatic refund by the end of September. No need to do anything on your part! Read more about it here. This only applies to late filing fees and not to failure-to-pay penalties.
“Quiet Quitting” is a new, somewhat misleading buzzword
If you’ve been keeping up with any news outlets, chances are you’ve come across the term “quiet quitting.” Sounds like people are leaving their jobs without notice, right? Nope. Quiet quitting refers to workers setting stronger work/life boundaries or not going above and beyond their job description without compensation. Some people see it as an appropriate measure to combat the burnout related to hustle culture. Others are interpreting it as an excuse to do the bare minimum––which can lead to resentment from coworkers who now have to pick up the slack. An alternative phrase, “acting your wage,” is also circulating.
If you wonder if the people you oversee might be quiet quitting, this article for managers suggests using this as an opportunity to re-engage your team, speaking with them one-on-one and as a group to check in regarding their workloads and your expectations.
How’s inflation going?
Inflation is down… a little. Gas prices have been falling since June, but grocery prices are still high. Here’s to hoping that the drop continues into the coming months. Until then, you may pick up a new habit of clipping coupons or strategically planning meals to keep grocery bills low.
Are you a superdodger?
No, it’s not a superfan of the Dodgers. A superdodger is someone who, unlike the majority of Americans, has not yet caught COVID-19, sometimes despite multiple exposures. Scientifically, a “true superdodger” is someone with a genetic mutation that makes them impervious to a virus. That’s probably not the case with COVID, but there are other theories including other mutations that make peoples’ bodies clear the virus so fast that they never develop symptoms. Read more about superdodgers here.