The crisis gateway right was doubled first to help the hotel and catering industry, then all the other sectors affected by the reconfinement, to face the compulsory closure. The bridging right to support the takeover has been extended until the end of the year. Classic bridging rights can be invoked for child custody and for quarantine situations.
The crisis gateway right (doubled)
The coronavirus gateway law has been introduced in March to help independents forced to stop their activity by government decision, as well as independents not subject to compulsory closure who had voluntarily suspended their activities for at least 7 days due to the coronavirus. Allowance planned was 1,291.69 euros for a single person and of 1,614.10 euros for those with family responsibilities.
In July, access conditions have become more restrictive, more self-employed persons then being entitled or able to resume their activity. The request was still possible for the independent
- forced to close
- dependent on a sector or a company forced to close
- voluntarily closed for at least 7 days due to the coronavirus (to be demonstrated by objective evidence).
Since the 1er September, this last category no longer has access to the crisis gateway right.
For others, the measure is extended until January 31, 2021.
“For the self-employed, caregivers and assisting spouses who have been forced to totally or partially stop their activities following a ministerial decree taken in the context of the Covid-19 crisis, such as the manager of a bar, a nightclub, a restaurant (even if it still offers take-away meals), a night shop held to close at 10 p.m., fairgrounds, the event sector, indemnities will be doubled, at 2,583.38 euros for a single person and to 3,228.20 euros for those with family responsibilities“, explains David Clarinval, Minister for the Independents.
Note that this right can be combined with a take-away activity.
The Gateway right is further improved for starters: they only have to contribute 2 months to be able to benefit from it (instead of 4 months).
The extended recovery support gateway right
The takeover support gateway right was introduced in June to support the self-employed who had to close (totally or partially) until May 3 or later, and who then (gradually) restarted their activity with a loss of turnover or their orders of at least 10% to 2e quarter of 2020 compared to the corresponding period of 2019. “For the October restart gateway right, the comparison is made between the 3e quarter of 2020 and the corresponding quarter of 2019 “, explains Mieke Bruyninckx, legal advisor at Acerta.
This measure, which was supposed to end on October 31, was extended until the end of the year.
It targets the mainly self-employed or who contribute as a self-employed principal and allow the granting of a financial benefit of 1,291.69 euros (isolated) or 1,614.10 euros (dependent of family).
And regional aid
Access to crisis bridging rights and recovery bridging rights apply even in the event of additional regional aid. The two mechanisms are therefore totally cumulative.
Bridging rights: quarantine and child custody
“The classic footbridge right is intended to come to the aid of a self-employed person forced to cease his activity when he suffers a setback: in the event of bankruptcy or fire, for example “, recalls Mieke Bruyninckx. compensation for a maximum of one year and is temporarily exempted from the payment of social contributionss, but continues to benefit from a number of social rights. “The time to turn around, to look for a job, to work as an employee or to prepare the launch of another activity”.
Since September, the self-employed person can benefit from the classic gateway right for forced interruption
– if he must respect a quarantine period which obliges him to stop all activity during at least 7 consecutive days. However, he will not be entitled to this benefit if he can work from home or if he has made a non-essential trip in a zone classified as red when he leaves.
– if he has to babysit a child (under 12) following the closure of a class, a school, a nursery or a reception center. “In this case, the self-employed person is not entitled to a indemnity for a whole month, but rather per week. For example, if his quarantine lasts 7 days, he will receive compensation for 7 days, which amounts to 322.92 euros for a single person or 403.53 euros with dependents“, specifies Mieke Bruyninckx.