Unemployment for the self-employed is the unemployment benefit for self-employed persons. It covers both:
- Total cessation: when you close down and stop practising.
- Partial cessation: when a justified cause forces you to reduce or partially suspend the activity.
It is managed and paid by your Social Security mutual insurance company (not the SEPE). To be entitled, it is not enough to “close”: you must be in a legal situation of cessation (accrediting a cause) and meet contribution and registration requirements.
As of 2019, contributions for termination of activity are generally compulsory for the self-employed; there may be exceptions in some flat-rate schemes.
Cases to apply
- Economic, technical, productive or organisational reasons (ETOP) You can access the total cessation when:
- You have made a loss in a full year of more than 10% of income for the same period (not counting the first year).
- There are judicial or administrative executions for debts of at least 30% of the previous year's income.
- There is a judicial declaration of insolvency that prevents continuation.
Usual evidence: affidavit, certificates/taxation (VAT/IRPF), seizure orders, bankruptcy order, closing/transfer documentation, certification from the association if applicable.
Closure due to force majeure
Unforeseeable events beyond your control (natural disasters, conflicts, epidemics, etc.) that make it impossible to continue. Provide documentation of the event and its relation to the termination and a sworn statement with dates.
Loss of administrative licence
If an essential licence (e.g. driving licence, medical licence) is withdrawn for non-criminal reasons. Provide proof of the administrative decision (reason and effective date).
Gender-based violence Enables temporary or permanent cessation. It contributes:
- Statement informing of the termination and its date.
- And one of these documents: protection order, restraining/imprisonment order, committal for trial, indictment report/ indictment, or conviction.
Divorce/separation
For self-employed collaborators who provided family support in the business of the ex-spouse/partner:
- Court decree of divorce or separation.
- Proof of loss of family support status.
New assumptions (2025)
Self-employed with employees
You can apply for the benefit if:
- You reduce at least 60% of the working time of all staff, or
- You temporarily suspend at least 60% of the contracts. In addition, the additional requirements below (drop in income and net yields) must be met.
Self-employed without employees Accedes if:
- Your debts to suppliers/creditors equal or exceed 150% of sales for the last two fiscal quarters. In addition, the additional requirements (drop in income and net returns) must be met.
Additional requirements Apply to both cases above:
- In the previous two fiscal quarters, there has been a 75% reduction in revenue/sales compared to the same period of the previous year(s).
- Your monthly net income does not reach the minimum wage or is below your contribution base.
Reduction 75% revenue/sales
- Each of the previous two quarters should be compared with the same quarter of the previous year(s).
- It keeps books, statements and tax forms to prove it.
Net income < SMI (€1,080)
- It is calculated as income minus deductible expenses.
- They must be lower than the current SMI (€1,080/month) or lower than your contribution base.
Partial cessation of activity due to force majeure
Possible when:
- There is a declaration of emergency by the competent authority.
- There is a 75% drop in income, and your net income does not reach the SMI (or is below your base). Key:
- It does not require total closure of the business or all workplaces.
- The benefit is 50% of the regulatory base and, in this case, no minimum/maximum ceilings apply.
General Requirements
- Be registered in RETA and paying contributions for cessation of activity.
- You must have paid at least 12 continuous months of contributions immediately prior to termination of employment.
- You must be up to date with your contributions. If you are not, the mutual insurance company “invites you to pay”: 30 days to regularise.
- You have not reached the ordinary retirement age (unless you do not have sufficient pension contributions).
- You are in a legal situation of cessation of activity (accredit the cause).
- Commitment of activity and availability for training/orientation actions (SEPE).
- If you have staff, comply with labour regulations prior to termination (registration/dismissal, payroll, ERTE, etc.).
Duration of unemployment
According to months of severance pay in recent years (not having previously used up that contribution):
- 12 to 17 months of contributions: 4 months of benefits
- 18 to 23: 6 months
- 24 to 29: 8 months
- 30 to 35: 10 months
- 36 to 42: 12 months
- 43 to 47: 16 months
- 48 or more: 24 months (maximum)
Benefit calculation
If you want to learn how to calculating unemployment, I recommend you to click on the link above.
- Regulatory base: average of your contribution bases for the 12 months prior to termination.
- General amount (total cessation): 70% of the regulatory base.
- Amount of partial cessation: 50% of the regulatory base.
- New assumptions (employees/debts): in practice the 50% of the base is recognised.
Ceilings (reference IPREM monthly increased by 1/6; IPREM 2024 = 600 €, 700 € with the sixth part; in the absence of IPREM 2025):
- Maximum: 175% IPREM (1,225 €); with 1 child: 200% (1,400 €); with 2 or more: 225% (1,575 €).
- Minimum: without children 80% IPREM (€560); with children 107% IPREM (approx. €749).
- In case of partial cessation due to force majeure, these ceilings do not apply.
Quotation during collection:
- The mutual insurance company pays your self-employed contribution.
- Exceptions: if you access by debts ≥150% of income or by reduction of 60% of working hours/contracts, the mutual insurance company covers the 50% and you the other 50%.
- In gender violence: total exemption of fees for the first 6 months.
How to apply
When:
- Until the last day of the month in which the actual termination takes place. If you do so within the following month, you are entitled from the day after the termination (with retroactive effect). Where:
- At your partner mutual insurance company (in person or online, depending on the mutual insurance company).
What to submit (list):
- Official application from the mutual insurance company.
- Affidavit of cessation of activity (Mutual/Social Security model).
- Personal Income Tax Form 145.
- DNI/NIE and, if applicable, family record book (dependent children).
- Documentation accrediting the cause of the termination:
- ETOP: accounting books/supporting documents, VAT/IRPF models, certifications, seizure resolutions, bankruptcy order, proof of closure/transfer, certification of the bar association.
- Force majeure: documents of the event and its relation to the termination; emergency declaration if any; your declaration with dates.
- Loss of licence: administrative decision with reason and effects.
- Gender violence: your statement and protection order, writs, prosecutor's writs or sentence.
- Divorce/separation: court decision and end of family allowance. Time limit for resolution:
- The mutual insurance company must notify within a maximum of 30 working days.
Practical advice:
- The poorly substantiated case is ground No. 1 for refusal. Gather solid and orderly evidence. If you have doubts, ask your consultant to help you match the data (income, debts, quarterly comparisons) with the assumption that best protects you. This way you maximise your chances of approval and get paid sooner.
Frequently asked questions
Do contributions paid as a self-employed person count towards unemployment?
Yes, self-employed contributions count towards unemployment benefits, although the benefit for the self-employed is officially known as the «cessation of activity».».
How long do I have to work to collect unemployment benefits after becoming self-employed?
You must have covered a minimum contribution period of 12 months for cessation of activity. These months of contributions are taken into account as of 2019 and without having previously received unemployment or special unemployment benefits.
Is it compatible to be self-employed and receive unemployment benefits?
The unemployment benefit is not compatible with maintaining a full and profitable economic activity as a self-employed person, as it is designed to cover self-employed workers «when they close their business and are left without a source of income».»
