The social security system provides the same benefits and conditions for the self-employed as for workers covered by the general social security system in terms of health care, including “the medical and pharmaceutical services necessary to preserve or restore the health of beneficiaries and their fitness for work”.

The benefit therefore covers health care in cases of maternity, common or occupational illness and accidents, whether or not they are work-related.

Temporary incapacity is the situation caused by a common or occupational illness or accident, whether or not work-related, that prevents you from working and requires medical care.

Entitlement to an allowance may be granted to alleviate your lack of income while you receive health care from the Social Security and continue to be unable to work for a maximum of 12 months, extendable for a further 6 months when it is presumed that during this time the worker can be medically discharged from work due to recovery.

Self-employed workers are entitled to the same contributory maternity benefits under the same conditions as workers in the general scheme, with some special features as described below.

The important special features of the maternity benefit applicable to self-employed women are as follows:

• Self-employed mothers who return to work within 2 years can take advantage of the flat rate of 50 euros for 12 months. They will also receive a 100% rebate on the contribution during the weeks in which they take maternity leave.
• In the case of hiring a substitute person under subsidised interim contracts with unemployed persons, they will be entitled to a 100% rebate on employer’s social security contributions, including those for accidents at work and occupational diseases.
• They may opt for part-time maternity leave, but the allowance and the reduction in activity may only be paid at the rate of 50%.
• In the event of cessation of activity coinciding with the maternity benefit, the latter will not be affected and will continue to be paid until the end of the maternity benefit.

The economic benefit for risk during pregnancy, which is considered to be derived from professional contingencies, offers social security coverage to pregnant self-employed women who have had their professional activity interrupted due to the risk of it having a negative influence on their health or that of the foetus and who have the corresponding certified report from the Public Health Service.

The benefit for permanent incapacity is intended to cover the loss of income of self-employed workers who are unable to continue working because they have been affected by an illness or accident that makes them unable to work in a presumably permanent manner.

If the permanent incapacity is due to occupational contingencies, the necessary requirements for the benefit are to have paid contributions for accidents at work and occupational illnesses and to have previously or simultaneously benefited from the temporary incapacity benefit.