RDL 30/2020: Article 14
Extraordinary cessation of activity benefit for seasonal workers (June to December).
Who is this benefit aimed at?
To those workers who:
- They concentrate their activity self-employed professional between the months of June to December.
- Occasionally they may do some self-employment work per year.
- During the first months of 2020 they have not received income from self-employment or employment, nor from Social Security benefits (unless these were compatible with the development of their self-employed activity).
- Plan to have some income less than €23,275 during 2020.
- Estimate a bad result in the 4th quarter of 2020.
Previous access requirements
- Have been registered and contributed to the Special Regime for at least four months in the period from June to December of each of the years 2018 and 2019.
- Not having been registered in the Special Regime, on any day between the months of January to May, in the years 2019 and 2020.
- Not having been registered or in a situation assimilated to registration, as an employed worker in the corresponding Social Security regime, for more than 120 days during the period between June 1, 2018 and July 31, 2020.
- Not having carried out any activity or having been registered or assimilated to registration from March 1 to May 31, 2020.
- Not having received any benefit from the Social Security system during the months of January to June 2020, unless it was compatible with the exercise of an activity as a self-employed worker.
- Be up to date with payment of contributions to the Special Regime at the time of requesting the benefit(Otherwise, from the Mutua we will invite you to update yourself, within the non-extendable period of 30 days).
Conditional access requirement
Not obtain, during the year 2020, income that exceeds €23,275.
What does the benefit consist of?
This benefit consists of 2 aids:
- The payment of a economic benefit whose amount will be calculated by applying 70% to the minimum contribution base that corresponds to the activity carried out in the Special Regime (and that, foreseeably, will be taxed in personal income tax).
To the amount of the resulting benefit,The maximum or minimum limits will not apply depending on the number of dependent children..
- The exemption from the obligation to contribute(taking the exemption period as quoted).
Is there an obligation to continue contributing to Social Security?
No, during the time the benefit is received 1, the self-employed worker will be exempt from the obligation to contribute.
The period during which the self-employed worker is exempt from the obligation to contribute will be understood as having contributed.
(1) Apparently, the period during which the benefit is received will also be considered as contributions, even if the worker has withdrawn from the Special Regime.
How long will the benefit last?
The benefit will last maximum of 4 months 2, provided that there is no prior cause for termination, and the request is submitted within the deadline.
The time of receipt of this benefit will not reduce benefit periods due to cessation of activity to which the beneficiary may be entitled in the future.
(2) Taking into account the context of the wording of the standard and that it indicates a “duration maximum of 4 months” instead of simply “a duration of 4 months” and, in line with the durations established for the rest of the benefits regulated in this Royal Decree-Law, it seems that the most legal interpretation would be that the benefit will have a maximum duration until January 31, 2021.
What are the incompatibilities with this benefit or the causes of termination?
This benefit is incompatible with:
- Any Social Security benefit that has been received, unless it is compatible with self-employment activity.
- Carrying out any work as an employee (regardless of the income that may arise).
- Receive aid for fleet paralysis (for maritime workers).
They will be the cause of extinction of the benefit:
- reach the maximum duration planned for the benefit 2.
- The withdrawal from the Special Social Security Regime.
- The death of the beneficiary.
What is the deadline to request this benefit?
This benefit can be requested from October 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021, with the following effects:
- Applications submitted between October 1 and 23 3 October (both inclusive): will accrue the right to the benefit from October 1 3.
- Applications submitted after October 24 (inclusive): will accrue the right to the benefit from the next day 4 to the date of submission of the application.
(3) According to an official letter received from the Ministry on October 21, it is indicated that “from the limited time available to establish the computer mechanisms for the management of these new benefits […] the convenience of extend the application period for the benefits regulated in article 14 and fourth additional provision of Royal Decree-Law 30/2020, of September 29, until October 23 […]”.
(4) The rule does not expressly indicate that the days elapsed between October 1 and the date of submission of the application are “lost”, but given that they condition the maximum duration of 4 months of the benefit to the fact that it is submitted on time, it seems the most coherent interpretation.
Can the benefit be waived or withdrawn after having requested it?
Yes, the worker who has requested payment of this benefit can:
- Give up to the benefit at any time before January 31, 2021, the resignation taking effect the month following its communication.
- Return the benefit on your own initiative for cessation of activity without having to wait for the Mutual Fund's claim, when it considers that it has not complied - or is not going to comply - with the access requirement conditioned on the level of income in the 2020 financial year.
(*) Annotations in red correspond to clarifications or issues subject to interpretation.
