Picture Report - Social (in)security for independents (27 october 2026)
The social security fo rindependents is neither social, nor secure. That was the conclusion of the round table which took place on Tuesday, 27 October 2026.
Moderated by Tanyth Blackler, the panel brought together Clara Moraru, President of the Union des Indépendants; Anne-Sophie Theissen, Head of Legal and European Affairs at the Chamber of Commerce; and two independent professionals, Jim Kent and Diane Hoffelt, who shared what happens when the system is put to the test.
The discussion covered three themes.
Gaps in protection. Independents pay around 26% of their income in social contributions, covering both the employee and the employer share. Yet if they fall ill, they receive nothing from the CNS for almost three months. To be covered during that period, they have to join the Mutualité des employeurs voluntarily, on top of everything they already pay. And even then, the compensation is not paid out: it is credited against their future contributions. Meanwhile, they must keep paying in cash their social contributions for the months they cannot work, as well as rent and other essential living costs.
Lived experience. Jim described how cancer interrupted his work, and how the timing of financial support affected him in practice. Diane explained how her maternity benefits were reassessed two years after her leave, and how she was asked to repay almost all of them. Both stories showed the same gap: rules that look complete on paper but fail when cash flow matters most.
Tax treatment and solutions. The panel discussed how social contributions are treated for tax purposes, and what could realistically change. The Union set out its priorities:
reduce the 77-day waiting period to 8 days;
guarantee income continuity without extra private insurance;
create a replacement-income scheme for force majeure;
make unemployment benefits accessible in practice, with ADEM publishing its data;
make benefits predictable, with maternity and parental leave benefits calculated on the last declared income, as for employees;
include independents in the reform of their own status.
The audience Q&A confirmed how widely these issues are felt and how unfair the system is.
We closed the evening with a relaxed cheese and wine buffet, a good reminder that this community is here to recharge with, not just to network with.
A warm thank you to our panellists, our moderator, and everyone who joined us, and to Moshe Hoss from 1000eyes.lu for capturing the evening. The conversation doesn’t end here. If you have faced a similar situation, write to us at info@uniondesindependants.lu. Your experience strengthens our case.
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If you are building your activity seriously, surround yourself with people who are doing the same. Autonomy should not mean figuring everything out alone. The independents who move forward together are the ones who stay ahead.
Independent. But not alone.
Not yet a member? Join here: https://www.uniondesindependants.lu/join-us
Many thanks to Mo Geffen from 1000eyes.lu for capturing the evening.
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