Extension of aid for the self-employed until May 31

The Council of Ministers approves a decree that extends benefits due to suspension of activity or low income

The Council of Ministers has approved the extension of aid for self-employed workers affected by Covid-19 until May 31.

The extension of the measures is contemplated in a Royal Decree-Law reinforcing and consolidating social measures in defense of employment.

Benefit for suspension of activity

Among the measures that are extended is the benefit for suspension of activity. As stated in the Social Security magazine, this measure is aimed especially at the self-employed who had to suspend their activity due to an administrative resolution to contain the spread of the pandemic. Thus, those affected by this measure have been able to receive 50% of the minimum contribution base. In addition, this amount increases by 20% if the self-employed person has a large family. It is estimated that the minimum benefit per professional is around 760 euros. The professional is also exempt from paying Social Security contributions and said period will remain as quoted.

The same happens with the provision that is compatible with professional performance.

This benefit is accessible to the self-employed whose income during the first quarter of 2021 has fallen by 50% compared to the second half of 2019. Among the changes that have been introduced in this benefit, the modification of the billing requirement stands out. Before, in order to receive it, income had to have fallen by 75%.

Low income

Two other benefits are also extended until the end of May. One of them has to do with the extraordinary aid that is granted for low incomes for those who have not been able to access other benefits. These aids are especially focused on the self-employed who had a decrease in income and who in the first half of 2021 have not invoiced more than 6,650 euros. This aid is also compatible with income from someone else's account of 1.25 times the Minimum Interprofessional Salary.

In addition, the Royal Decree contemplates the benefits for the seasonal self-employed. These professionals, if they have not obtained income of more than 6,650 euros during the first half of 2021, are entitled to receive the benefit, which is 70% of the minimum regulatory base.