Meeting restart after Covid shutdown
Our first meeting was held on 7th October 2021 and we will be having meetings every Thursday from 10.30 am at the Centro Social Jose Llorca, c/Goya s/n Benidorm. The coffee bar is open.
Covid Vaccination without Appointment
Covid Vaccine sessions without appointment. Anyone who has not had a Covid vaccine can attend vaccinations centres on certain days. For details see:
https://coronavirus.san.gva.es/es/web/vacunacion/informacion-puntos-vacunacion
Spanish Classes for Foreigners in September
Benidorm Council is starting enrolment for Spanish Classes held in the Adult Education Centre, Plaza Canalejas, Edificio Torreja 2nd floor. There are classes at 3 levels, from beginners A1, A2 to GSCE level B1. They start mid September. Enrolment is in the Town Hall, education department 3rd floor and is from 1st to 14th September. There are discounts for people on the Benidorm padrón. Application form and direct debit form can be downloaded from the website.
https://benidorm.org/es/ayuntamiento/concejalias/educacion/programas-municipales/adi-aula-de-idiomas
Discount bus pass for over 65’s Tarjeta Oro
You can apply for this at the ayuntamiento. Also online in English at https://alicante.avanzagrupo.com/en If you are on the Padron you are advised to do it through the town hall to get more benefits. You will need a photo.
For Benidorm council book appointment (Cita Previa) at. https://benidorm.org/es/ayuntamiento/concejalias/atencion-al-ciudadano/cita-previa. Chhose Otro Tramite Sin Registro and choose nearest office.
New EHIC
For people living in Spain with Spanish public health care provided by an S1 form they should apply for the New EHIC card and not the GHIC which is for UK residents only. You can only apply for this if you were legally resident in Spain (i.e. had a green EU resident card) before 31st Dec 2020. This means you are covered by the withdrawal agreement.
https://services.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/cra/start
It appears that though the EHIC covers you for urgent care while visiting other EU countries apart from Spain, it does not cover you in the UK. You are always advises by the UK Government to take out additional travel insurance.
The new UK EHIC will cover you for all medically necessary, state-provided healthcare when visiting another EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein.
Below is copied from EHIC website
“If you hold an S1, your EHIC will not cover you in the country you live in or the UK”
Change of Electricity Pricing from 1st June 2021
The government has introduced a three tier pricing system for electricity according to time of day. The aim is to even out usage, making energy generation more efficient.
This will be applied automatically via your smart meter to all people who have their contract with the provider of ultimate recourse (Iberdrola in Alicante).
The low rate is applicable all day during Saturday and Sunday and National Holidays. Other days it is from midnight to 8 am.
The standard rate (llano) is from 08.00 to 10.00, from 14.00 to 18.00 and from 22.00 to midnight.
The highest rate is from 10.00 to 14.00 and from 18.00 to 22.00