UNEMPLOYED BENEFIT FOR SELF-EMPLOYED (AUTONOMOS)

From November 7th on, self-employed people(autónomos) will be able to apply for the unemployed benefit in case they will be forced to stop their activity (non voluntary).

What are the requirements?

1. Every autonomo, has to make the contribution over the unemployment fee if wants to apply for it in the future. This is the 2,2% over the contribution basement (the minimum basement is 841,80€). -Remember this: the social security quota is a percentage over your basement.

2. For being able to get the unemployed fee, the self-employed worker has also to add the proffesional eventualities (accidents and professional illness) to their Social Security contribution. Most of autónomos were not making this payment because they have a non-risk activity, but to apply for the benefit it will be an obliged requirement whatever the activity is. So for those who were not paying it, the cost will be a percentage from 1% to 6% depending on the board (you can download in Spanish)for the activity.

3. The benefit lenght is going to depend over the lenght of the contribution period. It has to be at least one uninterrupted year (counting from November 8th).

* Between 12 y 17 months contributed: you will get 2 months of benefit.
* Between 18 y 23 months contributed: 3 months.
* Between 24 y 29 months contributed: 4 months.
* Between 30 y 35 months contributed: 5 months.
* Between 36 y 42 months contributed: 6 months.
* Between 42 y 48 months contributed: 8 months.
* More than 48 months contributed: 12 months.

3. The benefit will be the 70% of the contribution basement for the last 12 months.

4. Like a contracted worker, if an autonomo choice to stop his activity, he will not be able to apply for the unemployment fee (for being able he has to be forced to be on dole). How it can be legally recognised "forced":

- To justify 30% losses in a year, or 20% in two years without counting the first year of activity,.

- A divorce that affect the business.

- To get the business licence canceled.

- Closing due to a judge order.

- Because Force Majeure(unforeseeable circumstances).

At the end is a personal choice for the Self-employed worker to increase his contribution or not if wants to be able to apply for the unemployment fee if things go wrong.