I'm trying to decide whether going autonomo is the correct solution. I am an early retiree in Spain with a wife and three children.

To get health care here we can;

• go private at a cost of 500-600 euros/month but doesn't cover existing conditions (which is important)
• pay the 270euros/quarter for the 'valencian solution' but this is per person I believe so a total of 450euros/month
• go autonomo and pay 270euros/month (social) plus 100euros/quarter (gestor) to cover all of us

Does anyone have any views on this? Are there any hidden costs? We already declare our income so the tax situation should be much the same (I think). I know going autonomo has other advantages like a pension (after 15 years) and sickness benefit but what are the down sides?

From what you say I´d forget the Valenciano cuota scheme. It´s more expensive for the same level of cover, does not give you the right to an EHIC card or cover you for travel in other parts of Spain and is very bureaucratic. Additionally, although the scheme offers a subsidy on prescriptions this may not last.

Unless you´ve any concerns around quality of care I´d go for the autonomo as opposed to private cover. None of money you pay in actually goes towards funding the health service with most of it going into the Spanish state pension fund. You´re therefore likely to get most, if not all, of the contributions back in the form of a pension. I believe 15 years of subs work out to very roughly a 350-400 euros a month pension. If you can´t get 15 years in, then any NI contributions you made in the UK count towards elligibilty.

I think it has been mentioned here before and on other forums that you cannot be autonomo without any economic activity.

I do know pf 2 people who have tried and were struck off after about 6 months.

Anyone know what profession has the lowest monthly payment for autonomo?

I understand agricultural workers only pay around 170,00 euro.

Domestic employees (Empleados de Hogar) about 163 euros per month.

15 years of autonomo does indeed pay a pension of 400 Euros a month for ten months and two months of 800. Additional pensions from the UK need some ‘out of the box’ thinking when considering the tax implications.

Absolutely correct, luckily we have a number of properties we rent out (and declare for tax purposes) so that will be our declared business.

We saw the assesor this morning and it should be OK.