Originally published in the Summer 2022 edition of The Virginia Defender, issue 69, printed July 27. Reproduced here for accessibility and archival purposes. To find other stories in the Summer 2022 issue or to download the full PDF, see this post. For the full web catalog, see our Full Issues page.

Free 24/7 medical advice from a nurse

It’s three in the morning, your child wakes up and says they don’t feel well and you don’t know what to do? Consult a Nurse is a free, 24/7 service that provides professional advice on health issues. 833-866- 6727.

988 is now the 911 for mental health support

Feeling overwhelmed? Maye even suicidal? Now help is just a three-digit call away. Thanks to federal funding, people in need of mental health support can call 988, the new number that connects the caller to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. The old number for that service – 800-273-8255 – will still work, but the idea is that a three-digit number will be easier to remember. 988. It just might help.

IRS Mileage rates went up July 1

In recognition of the rising cost of gasoline, the IRS has raised the standard mileage rate for the final six months of 2022. According to its website, taxpayers may use the optional standard mileage rates to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business and certain other purposes. The standard mileage rate for business travel now is 62.5 cents per mile, up 4 cents from the rate effective at the start of the year. The new rate for deductible medical or moving expenses (available for active-duty members of the military) is now 22 cents, up 4 cents. The changes also are important for self-employed contractors who charge customers for mileage. Note: New rates will likely be announced for 2023, if not before. To be sure of current rates, consult the IRS website here.