social security - FOD Sociale Zekerheid

Aid for self-employed persons after giving birth,after an adoption, in case of serious illness of a childor in case of palliative careA. Maternity aid after giving birthThis aid aims to improve the situation of self-employed mothers who resume their self-employedactivity and who have to run their household and take care of their child at the same time. Thismaternity aid can be granted to self-employed or helping women who are subject to the socialsecurity scheme for self-employed persons and who are at least liable for the minimum socialsecurity contributions for a self-employed main activity and helpings spouses subject to the maxistatus and who are at least liable for the applicable minimum social security contributions, andwho- have given birth to one or more children since 1 January 2006,- have paid social security contributions for the two quarters preceding the quarter of thedelivery,- produce a certificate of the local authority proving the registration of the child(ren) in thefamily of the self-employed woman,- have to resume their self-employed activity after the maternity leave, until their aid isgranted.This aid entitles the self-employed women to a benefit in the form of 105 free service chequeswhich allow to appeal to the service of a person (1 cheque per hour) who carries out domestictasks. The aid has to be applied for to the social insurance fund at the latest before the end of the15th week after giving birth.B. Allowance after an adoptionA self-employed man or woman who adopts a child can, under certain conditions, claim anallowance of 390.88 EUR per week (on 1 July 2011), which equals the amount of the maternityfee. When the child has not yet reached the age of 3 at the beginning of the period, the allowanceis granted for maximally 6 weeks. If the child is older than 3 and younger than 8 years at thebeginning of the period, the allowance is granted for maximally 4 weeks. The maximum durationof this period is doubled when the child has a recognised handicap.During this period, the self-employed person may, in his personal capacity, not exercise aprofessional activity and may not claim any benefit for primary incapacity or invalidity. Moreover,his social contributions have to be paid correctly, as for the entitlement to benefits from theinsurance in case of incapacity for work or maternity. The application has to be filed with theinsurance institution (health insurance fund).64