Corona aid from the state: who gets what?
Carola Felchner is a freelance writer in the medical department and a certified training and nutrition advisor. She worked for various specialist magazines and online portals before becoming a freelance journalist in 2015. Before starting her internship, she studied translation and interpreting in Kempten and Munich.
More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.The self-employed fear for their existence, parents have lost earnings because they are at home with their children, employees are put on short-time work - in order to cushion the financial cuts of the Corona crisis, the federal government has now decided on an aid package of historic proportions. Who can get what? An overview.
The corona crisis has been determining our lives for weeks - when shopping, in our free time, at work. Many not only have to severely restrict their everyday lives, but fear for their existence. The federal government steps in with an aid package of historic proportions. On Friday, the Federal Council finally and unanimously cleared the way - the first money should reach those affected in a few days. Who is entitled to what?
Workers
Companies can apply for short-time work benefits if a certain proportion of their employees are affected by the loss of work. This means losses for employees. Because the Federal Employment Agency only pays part of the net loss of wages: 60 percent. Anyone who has children receives 67 percent. Children under the age of 18 and possibly older children up to their 25th birthday count as children.
Self employed and small businesses
You are entitled to immediate aid. Self-employed, freelancers and small companies with up to five employees can apply for a one-off payment of up to 9,000 euros, and companies with up to ten employees up to 15,000 euros. The prerequisite is that you have economic difficulties as a result of Corona and were not in economic difficulties before March 2020.
The one-off payment is valid for a maximum of three months and can also be used for two more months if, for example, you have rented an office or commercial space and the landlord has reduced the rent by at least 20 percent, as stated in the relevant key issues paper. You only have to pay back the amount that you did not use from the emergency aid.
Loans
In addition, KfW-Förderbank has launched an unlimited special loan program for companies, the self-employed and freelancers - with simplified access terms and conditions.
But be careful: In contrast to the emergency aid, these loans must be repaid plus interest.
steer
Companies also get help with due taxes. If income and corporation tax cannot be paid at the moment due to the crisis, you can defer it interest-free - you apply for this at the tax office, as the taxpayers' association explains. In the case of sales tax, the deferral must be checked on a case-by-case basis.
A reduction in advance payments and a lowering of the tax base for trade tax can also be applied for. The Bavarian State Tax Office, among others, provides an online form for the relevant applications.
loss of earnings
If freelancers or the self-employed are banned from professional activity by the health department, for example because they have to be in quarantine, they are entitled to compensation. You have to apply for this at the responsible tax authority, in Berlin for example by e-mail to the Senate Department for Finance. According to the Infection Protection Act, those affected are entitled to a sum equal to the expected loss of earnings for the first six weeks. Business expenses can also be reimbursed. Anyone who voluntarily goes into quarantine is not entitled to any compensation.
renter
Tenants should no longer be given notice if they find themselves in financial difficulties as a result of the Corona crisis. Corresponding rental debts from the period from April 1 to September 30, 2020 should therefore not lead to termination. Basically, this is emphasized, of course, the obligation to pay rent continues to exist. And: Anyone who cannot pay the costs for electricity, gas, telecommunications or, in some cases, water due to the crisis, should not be cut off from them.
parents
According to the new regulations, the state will continue to pay 67 percent of the wages for an initial six weeks if parents have to look after children under the age of twelve at home because daycare centers and schools are closed. The sum is capped, however, there is a maximum of 2016 euros per month. And: There is no entitlement if it would be closed anyway due to the school holidays. To get the money, you turn to your employer - he'll get the money back from the responsible state.
In addition, parents who are currently struggling with lower incomes should get the child allowance more easily. It can be applied for online at the Federal Employment Agency. Information and help is available at www.kinderzuschlag.de.
unemployment
Access to basic security is to be temporarily made easier. The Federal Employment Agency explains that anyone who submits an application for this from March 1 to June 30, 2020 will not be subject to the asset test for the first six months. At least when you declare that you do not have significant wealth. For the first six months of the Hartz IV subscription, the actual expenses for rent and heating should also be recognized.
Self-employed people without voluntary unemployment insurance receive unemployment benefit II. If you are self-employed, however, you can apply for unemployment benefit I. It should be noted, however, that according to the Verdi union, the payment for the self-employed is currently limited to two payments.
And big companies?
In addition to tax relief and the KfW special program, you can benefit from an economic stabilization fund that the federal government has set up and which holds several hundred billion euros for capital measures, guarantees and loan refinancing. According to the Ministry of Finance, the focus here is on larger companies with more than 250 employees. But smaller companies in the field of critical infrastructures and sectors could also be taken into account. (caf / dpa)
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