The self-employed worker is obliged to pay social security contributions, which depend on the contribution base he has.
The contribution base is like the base salary according to which the Social Security is quoted. The higher the base salary, the higher the rate paid to Social Security. In practice, almost all self-employed choose to pay the minimum, putting the minimum as a contribution base, although a higher contribution base would give us the right to a higher pension when we retire.
A self-employed person can decide between different coverage options as there are compulsory and voluntary ones.
Common contingencies:
The coverage of the economic benefit due to temporary incapacity shall be mandatory except for self-employed workers in a multi-activity situation who are entitled to temporary incapacity benefit in another system of the Social Security System and for workers included in the Special Agricultural System.
The option must be formalized with a mutual collaborator with the Social Security at the time of being discharged in this Special Regime and its effects will coincide with those of the discharge.
Professional Contingencies:
The contribution to Social Security for professional contingencies for self-employed workers is voluntary, so that those who have not chosen this option will not enjoy coverage and sickness benefits, in the event that the loss is due to an occupational accident resulting from their work.
However, the Law establishes that coverage of this contingency is mandatory for certain self-employed workers, so they will have to include it in their contribution base and, therefore, pay a higher social security contribution. Like it or not.
The following self-employed workers are required to pay for professional contingencies:
– The Self-employed Economically Dependent Workers, that is to say, the self-employed workers who work practically exclusively for a single client
– Partners in the Associated Work Cooperatives dedicated to street vending, who receive their income directly from buyers
– Self-employed workers who, without being members of cooperatives, are engaged in peddling in markets or markets for a maximum of three days a week, with a schedule of less than 8 hours a day and do not have their own fixed establishment, or directly produce the products they sell to consumers
– Self-employed workers who carry out activities with a high risk of accidents
The coverage of the risk by professional contingencies must be formalized with the same Underwriting Entity or mutual collaborator with the Social Security with which the coverage for Temporary Disability was made.
The self-employed worker may take advantage of or waive the option of listing for professional contingencies beyond the date of discharge, which must be made prior to October 1st of each year, to take effect as of January 1st of the following year.
Coverage of the cessation of activity
Law 35/2014 of December 26th (BOE of 29) establishes the voluntary nature of the coverage of the termination of activity for self-employed or self-employed workers as of January 1st, 2015.
The option of waiver or coverage of the risk that is not formalized with the discharge must be made before October 1st of each year and will take effect as of January 1st of the following year.
It will be carried out with the same Mutual Collaborator with which the coverage of the Temporary Disability has been formalized.

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