03/31/2020 16:00
(Act. 31.03.2020 19:58)
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High earners can also get money from the hardship fund.
© APA / HANS KLAUS TECHT
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An expansion of the hardship fund is imminent. In the future, well-earners will also receive money.
As previously announced, the hardship fund will be expanded. High earners who have grossed more than 5,000 euros per month will also be eligible in the second payment phase. This emerges from information that the Ministry of Finance submitted to APA on Tuesday. “Everyone who needs help should also get help,” said Finance Minister Gernot Blümel (ÖVP).
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Upper limit does not apply as an entry criterion
“In contrast to phase 1, the upper limit does not apply as an entry criterion,” says the documents. So far, better-earning self-employed were not considered “hardship cases” and were excluded from the € 1 billion hardship fund. The limit in the previous ordinance was 80 percent of the annual maximum social security contribution basis, which is EUR 75,180 this year.
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The lower limit of around 5,500 euros (annual de minimis limit) is also to be dropped. However, in order to prove that you are actually self-employed, you must have registered for a social insurance and the income from self-employment must be declared in the last available tax assessment or, on average, the last three tax assessments available.
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Phase 2: The circle of recipients is expanded
“In phase 2, the circle of beneficiaries will be expanded and allocated proportionately to the loss of earnings,” said the APA. The loss of earnings from the current “COVID month”, from March 16 to April 15, will be replaced by 80 percent compared to previous income, capped at 2,000 euros per month for a maximum of three months. Phase 2 should start after Easter.
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Young entrepreneurs – with SV registration between January 1st, 2020 and March 15th – are now included in the criteria as beneficiaries. Previously, the business license had to be registered by December 31, 2019.
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The hardship fund is aimed in particular at the self-employed, freelancers, one-person entrepreneurs and small entrepreneurs with fewer than 10 employees. Artists, trainers, consultants or therapists should also be absorbed in this way.
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85,000 applications have already been submitted
According to the Chamber of Commerce, which processes the applications, over 85,000 applications were submitted by Tuesday morning. Around 90 percent of them have already been successfully concluded and paid out. In the second payment phase, you receive “emergency aid” of usually 1,000 euros. This is then taken into account in the second payment phase.
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For the companies affected by the business closures, the 15 billion euro corona crisis fund is said to exist. The money pot previously referred to by the government as an emergency aid fund is due to be passed in parliament on Friday. Details will be presented to the opposition and the public on Wednesday. The criteria for this corona crisis fund would be “currently finalized”.
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