Factsheet for measure
DE-2020-13/404
–
Updated
– measures in Germany
Basic income support for solo self-employed
Grundsicherung für Solo-Selbstständige
Background information
The German Federal Government decided to ease up rules for basic income support for solo-self employed persons. Usually, basic income support is only available for persons in need looking for work. As many orders and engagements of solo self-employed persons were cancelled, the basic income scheme was opened for new target groups, such as solo self-employed persons temporarily out of orders/work. This measure is part of a broader rescue package adopted by the government at the end of March 2020, in order to help out German business, freelancers and micro entrepreneurs. The whole package consists of reducing tax burdens, easier access to loans, start-up support, lowering companies personnel costs by improved short-time working scheme and other financial help for solo- or micro entrepreneurs.
Content of measure
The German Federal Government eased rules for basic income support, in order to help solo self-employed persons to get through the crisis. As it is hard to find new work for solo self-employed and free lancers and many of their jobs are cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Government opened up the basic income scheme. The new scheme also includes groups that are not truly looking for a new job, but are only temporarily out of business, such as solo self-employed. Applicants for basic income support working as solo self-employed will not have to make any statements on their financial assets and will also not have to tap these assets within the next six months, before being granted basic income support. With the basic income support, they should be able to pay rent or finance their housing. The new rules also provide that application will be provisionally approved and the usual means-testing will be conducted later. In this way, the government hopes to facilitate easier and faster access to these grants.
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
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26 January 2023
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The measure was not prolonged as such. However, at the beginning of 2023, the newly created
citizen's benefit
took effect, easing rules for receiving basic income in general.
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20 May 2022
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Due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic, eased rules for basic income support were prologned until the end of 2022.
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24 November 2021
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At the end of November 2021, the programme period for the basic income support for solo self-employed was extended to the end of March 2022.
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01 April 2021
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On 1 April 2021, the social protection act III took effect. The also includes a one-off payment worth €150. The one-off payment was paid to all eligible participants in the basic income-support scheme for solo-self employed in May 2021. The payment is meant to help recipients with the rising living costs incurred by the pandemic and covers the first half of 2021.
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30 March 2021
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At the end of March 2021, the Federal Employment Agency announced that the basic income support for solo self-employed will remain open until the end of 2021.
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07 January 2021
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At the beginning of November 2020, the Federal Government issued another aid package after announcing a partial lockdown in Germany. As part of the package, new rules on eased access to basic income support for solo self-employed were prolonged until 31 March 2021.
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08 October 2020
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In early September 2020, the Federal Government extended the Social Protection Act 1 until 31 December 2020. This includes basic income support for solo self-employed.
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Use of measure
No information to date. The Federal Employment Agency provides data on basic income support. However, this data cannot be broken down to identify solo self-employed persons receiving grants from the new scheme.
Target groups
Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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National government
Public employment service
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National funds
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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Consulted
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Consulted
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Form
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Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal
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Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
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Social partners jointly
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Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level
Involvement
German social partners (employer and union representatives as well as public body representatives) sit on the board of the Federal Employment Agency that manages the funds of the basic income support scheme. Board members decide on the strategic goals of the Federal Agency, its budget and are also responsible for issuing orders.
Views and reactions
The Confederation of German Employers' Association (BDA) and the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) jointly welcomed the crisis package adopted by the Federal Government in spring 2020.
Sources
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13 March 2020: DGB and BDA: The social partners share responsibility in the corona crisis over differencesSocial partners neglect differences (DGB und BDA: Die Sozialpartner stellen gemeinsame Verantwortung in der Coronakrise über Differenzen)
(tp-presseagentur.de)
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09 April 2020: For jobs and the economy: Immediate Assistance Programme and Economic Stabilisation fun
(www.bundesfinanzministerium.de)
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09 September 2020: New rules on basic income support prologned
(www.bmas.de)
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06 November 2020: Eased access basic income support prologned
(www.bmas.de)
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01 April 2021: Social Protection Act III
(www.bgbl.de)
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23 February 2022: Corona-Pandemie: FAQ zur Grundsicherung
(www.bmas.de)
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20 May 2022: New COVID-19 relief package adopted
(www.bmwk.de)
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26 January 2023: New legislative rules will take effect
(www.bundesregierung.de)
