Self-employed people in Ceuta and Melilla can qualify for aid

The provisional award takes effect from 1 August or the date your business activity stopped.

If you are self-employed (an autónomo) in Ceuta or Melilla, you may qualify for temporary support or reduced contributions. The Spanish Social Security magazine says the government approved the measures on 2 September 2026. Workers and businesses affected by recent temporary closures are also covered.

Does this support apply to you?

The measures cover workers, self-employed people and businesses whose activity has been or may be disrupted by temporary closures. Payment deferrals are limited to businesses with a Social Security contribution account in Ceuta and self-employed people who live or work there.

What can you receive or pay less?

To qualify for the cessation of activity benefit, your income must have fallen by more than 50% compared with the previous financial year's monthly average. Your net monthly earnings from all activities must be no higher than Spain's minimum wage (SMI), or your contribution base if lower. There is no minimum contribution period. The benefit is 70% of the base used to calculate it.

A Social Security mutual insurer (mutua) or the Instituto Social de la Marina (ISM) will make a provisional decision. It takes effect from 1 August or the date your activity stopped, and lasts up to four months from September 2026. Time on this benefit does not reduce your entitlement to the standard self-employed cessation benefit.

If you keep trading, you get a 75% reduction in the common contingencies part of your contribution, based on your provisional or final contribution base. Businesses whose activity is blocked or restricted can use a force majeure temporary layoff scheme (ERTE) and are exempt from 100% of employer contributions from September to December 2026. Hiring and job-retention discounts for new and existing contracts rise from 50% to 75% of the employer contribution for common contingencies, unemployment, training and FOGASA.

In Ceuta, businesses and self-employed people who are up to date with Social Security payments and have no other deferral in force can request payment deferrals and a four-month contribution moratorium at a reduced interest rate of 0.5%. Social Security's article gives no application form or deadline.

For that benefit, see our guide to unemployment benefits in Spain. For help with registration, see our guide to registering as an autónomo.

What should you do now?

• Collect evidence of the income drop and your net monthly earnings.
• If self-employed, ask your mutua or the ISM about provisional recognition.
• Save the official page and check it before applying.