Originally Posted by Jur (Post 8121889)

Hi Jontee, the "Ayuda familiar" is indeed help for families who are not entitled to any other financial help, apply for it in the Inem office. You will need to bring your ID/NIE, Libro de Familia (if you have one), tarjeta de residencia, a copy of your Vida Laboral.

Another example, my children go to the same school (age 3 and 5), if I wish to put them both in the comedor, I will have to pay for only one.
They also participate in extra classes after regular school (Inglés, Megataller). Normally theses classs cost € 15,- per class,month,child (€ 60,- total) but after asking in the Secretaria of the school we don´t have to pay for that either. (A calculation has been made based on our income) So there is some help available in various forms. Good luck and hang in there.

Originally Posted by Jontee (Post 8305905)

Just to let you know. the so called assistance as posted here by Rachelk http://www.portalautonomos.com/index...idad/?id=38156 has not yet been approved according to my Gestor, and she also says that "and normally before it happens we will have to pay a bigger amount every month on top of the existing figure". Yeah alot of help that is!!!
Thanks anyway folks, but it looks like there is no help.

Originally Posted by jdr (Post 8306037)

There was no help in the UK either, only for dependants if you was lucky. :(

Originally Posted by fionamw (Post 8306928)

Difference being you can pay nil self-employed contributions if your income is sufficiently small. Accepted that would ultimately impact on your potential state pension (but that's precious little anyway these days) but health care & unemployment benefit if it became necessary would both be available, no? Anyway, that's what I did six or so years ago when a fledgling business had nil income initially. All above board.
(eventually crashed & burned falling out of the nest but that's by the by!)

Originally Posted by bil (Post 8307314)

With that charge each month, how in hell do you start up a small business if you don't have a good wad of cash, enough to carry you through the lean times at the start till you can earn enough to feed/house yourself plus that payment?

We started from nothing in the UK, and had I had to make that sort of payment we would have found it hard, if not impossible to get going.

Originally Posted by Jontee (Post 8102151)

Does anyone know if there is any help in the current economic climate for Autonomo workers? I have a small business that is struggling at the moment and I am finding it ever more difficult each month to make my Autonomo payment of €265 monthly. If I do not make this payment I cannot work. Is there any short term relief, or lower payments? Or do I just end up being illegal? Presumably then getting fined.
It is so difficult to know what to do as some months I do not make enough to cover my running expenses, but if I stop paying I cannot work if there is some money to earn. I have rental to pay on my premises and I hold a fair amount of stock too. If I get rid of this then I will have no chance of supporting myself if things improve. Plus, surely things will improve!! It is a lot of money to pay out just for the privilege of being able to try to earn some money.

Originally Posted by bil (Post 8307314)

With that charge each month, how in hell do you start up a small business if you don't have a good wad of cash, enough to carry you through the lean times at the start till you can earn enough to feed/house yourself plus that payment?

We started from nothing in the UK, and had I had to make that sort of payment we would have found it hard, if not impossible to get going.

Originally Posted by Rotor (Post 8307505)

I`ve paid the SS the same as you for the last 5 years and it sure is a ripoff considering what you get in return,SFA!

Realistically you may need to consider closing down or selling up ,I know this is a hard dedescision after years of building up you bubusiness but if your loosing money you have to pull the plug sometime,better sooner than later.I`ve had to do it twice during my 25 years of being in business.

Good luck anyway.

Originally Posted by cricketman (Post 8307543)

You get healthcare and a pension off the back of that 250 odd euros a month. Especially since it could cover the healthcare of an entire family.

Doesn't sound bad to me!

Originally Posted by cricketman (Post 8307543)

You get healthcare and a pension off the back of that 250 odd euros a month. Especially since it could cover the healthcare of an entire family.

Doesn't sound bad to me!

Originally Posted by JLFS (Post 8307572)

The problem is if you come from the UK, it sounds bad.

Other countries like Italy have more or less the same system as Spain, so they have not been "spoiled" by the easiness and cushioning of the UK system.

Living in Spain is a lot more difficult if things are not going too well financially, wherea in the UK, there seems to be a lot more help out there.

I maybe wrong but I think that even the self employed in the UK can claim some sort of top up, if they cannot live on the profits of the business. And of course the SS quota nowhere near as high.

I think it starts at a couple of quid a week.

I know a few folk "pasando putas" right now, if a little help were available (ie a reduction of the SS quota) they might be able to ride the storm, but as there is none in that department, they may have to shut the shop, so to speak........

Very sad-

Originally Posted by cricketman (Post 8307598)

Yes, nice summary :)

In a way, it is why family relationships are so strong in Spain because in hard times they have to help each other out financially.

When my OH was little they had two aunties, an uncle and a cousin living with them. So 5 adults and 5 children living in a 120 square meter flat! Within a year or two the relatives had all found jobs and flats of their own.

I think it's nice and better than relying on a faceless state system. However, it means those with families who have very little or no family at all can have a very hard time