Intervention Categories: Legal and policy; Regulatory change; Finance policy and financial aid; Stimulus packages and financial support
Level of Jurisdiction: National
Overview: The Dutch Government has extended the category of self-employed professionals eligible to apply for its ‘Temporary Bridging Scheme for Independent Entrepreneurs’ (Tozo). Those who live in the Netherlands, but have businesses established in another European Union (EU) country can now apply for income support under the Tozo scheme.
Those who live elsewhere in the EU, but have businesses in the Netherlands, as well as self-employeed professionals eligible for state pensions, can now apply for low-interest business loans under the scheme. Applications are open until 31 May 2020.
The Tozo scheme is aimed at compensating self-employed professionals who expect to earn less than the minimum wage (for the period 1 March to 31 August 2020) as a result of COVID-19. Those who are married or codependent can recieve €1500 net a month for a maximum of three months, while those who are single can get €1050. Those facing cash-flow problems can also request a three year loan of up to €10,517 at an interest rate of 2 percent, with repayments from January 2021.
The government has allocated €3.8 billion to fund the scheme and is providing local authorities €250 million in advance to enable its implementation.
Full details here: https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/coronavirus-covid-19/nieuws/2020/04/24/grenswerkers-en-aow%E2%80%99ers-toegevoegd-aan-tozo-regeling