Covid aid for micro-entrepreneurs in France explained

Reader question: Have there been any changes to sick pay regulations for independent workers with reduced income due to Covid-19? It seems unfair that micro-entrepreneurs are punished twice by the epidemic – first from loss of income and then refusal of sickness benefit as this is linked to income levels.

There are no specific changes linked to sick pay and Covid for independent workers.

However, the government Covid-19 helpline for businesses told The Connexion that there are other means of financial support in place for independent workers with reduced income due to the pandemic.

For example self-employed workers can opt to only partially pay, or put off, social charge payments (see second question online here). You will have to make the amounts up later on.

The Fonds de solidarité is open to both independent workers who have had to stop work by government order, and those who have remained open but who have seen their income fall by more than 50%.

Amounts and rules to apply differ dependent on circumstances. Details are here together with measures including deferring social security payments: tinyurl.com/xs24nccx

To recap the rules for sick pay, micro-entrepreneurs must have worked for 12 months and have an arrêt de travail from a doctor within 48 hours of stopping work.

If you are a contact of a person who has had a positive test result for Covid-19,you can apply for one without seeing a doctor. To receive sick pay, annual average earnings, referred to as RAAM (revenu d’activité annuel moyen) have to be more than €4,047 a year.

The Fédération des Auto-entrepreneurs gives these minimum income figures:

• BNC professions libérales - tax allowance 34% - income at least €6,131
• BIC artisan, commerçant purchase and resale – tax allowance 71% - income at least €13,953
• BIC artisan, commerçant other services – tax allowance 50% - income at least €8,093

Sick pay is equal to half your average daily pay. Daily payments range from €5.54 to a maximum of €56.35 a day.

There is no payment for the first three days on sick leave. 

Is my S1 form affected if I become a micro-entrepreneur?