Guide for Solo Self-Employed Individuals During the COVID-19 Crisis Help for Solo Self-Employed Individuals and Small Businesses

No repayment required: One-time payments

One-time payments are available for the self-employed and small businesses. Businesses with up to five employees (full-time equivalents) can receive up to 9,000 euros. Small businesses with up to ten employees can receive up to 15,000 euros. These funds can be used to cover operating costs. The one-time payments do not need to be repaid. The total amount of aid available is 50 billion euros. This aid also applies to farmers.

Eligibility Requirements for One-Time Payments

Applicants must conduct their business within Germany and be registered with a German tax office. They must also certify that the COVID-19 pandemic has placed them in a situation that threatens their livelihood. They must not have been in financial distress prior to the COVID-19 crisis (the cutoff date is December 31, 2019).

Earmarked Emergency Aid

The emergency aid is earmarked for ongoing operating costs. It may not be used for personal living expenses (rent, groceries). To cover these costs, the federal government has significantly simplified access to basic income support, initially for a period of six months.

Application and Payment

Applications for emergency aid are processed through state authorities. They are also responsible for disbursement. The relevant agencies are listed and linked below.

Note the Application Deadline

The application for emergency aid must be submitted to the relevant state authority by May 31, 2020, at the latest. Further information is available on the website of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs.

Additional Assistance from the Federal States

Some federal states have launched their own additional aid programs for the self-employed and small business owners. Those affected can generally combine this aid with federal assistance. An overview of the federal states’ aid programs is available here.

Securing a Livelihood

If solo self-employed individuals, freelancers, or small business owners can no longer cover their living expenses due to the coronavirus crisis, they can apply for basic income support through a simplified procedure. The usual means test is waived for the next six months. The adequacy of housing is also not assessed; instead, the actual costs for housing and heating are recognized in full.

Further information is available on the website of the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.