Capitalización del paro (pago único del SEPE)

What you need to have ready

1. Cl@ve, certificado digital o DNIe. Without electronic ID you can't access the sede.
2. IBAN where you want the payment to land.
3. Clear idea of the project: autónomo, cooperativa/sociedad laboral or sociedad mercantil, and how much you need for investment and/or Social Security fees.
4. Time to write a decent memoria and collect quotes.

Documentation

1. DNI/NIE and bank details.
2. Memoria explicativa of the business: activity, clients, location, income/expense forecast and investment plan with amounts.
3. Facturas proforma o presupuestos nominativos for what you will buy (equipment, furniture, software, licences, training, marketing, deposit). Nothing generic.
4. Si vas a cooperativa/sociedad laboral: certificado de admisión como socio trabajador y cuantía a aportar.
5. Si aportas a una sociedad mercantil: borrador de estatutos/escritura y documento que acredite que trabajarás de forma estable y con control efectivo.
6. Modelos 036/037 y alta en RETA, pero solo tras la concesión y cobro (te pedirán que los subas al justificar). Never before applying.
7. Specific certificates if any (disability, complementary grants, etc.).

Step by step

1. Go to https://sede.sepe.gob.es with Cl@ve/certificate and look for “Solicite el pago único de la prestación por desempleo”.
2. Fill the form: project type, amount for inversión and whether you want abono de cuotas for Social Security.
3. Attach the memoria, the presupuestos/facturas proforma and, if applicable, cooperative/company certificates or draft statutes. Upload your IBAN too.
4. Sign and register. Keep the resguardo.
5. Watch your file on the sede: if there is a subsanación, you have 10 días hábiles to answer.
6. Concession and ingreso: when the resolution arrives, the money is paid into your account. Then do the alta en Hacienda (036/037) and RETA or complete the constitution/incorporation.
7. Justify within 1 month: upload final invoices and proofs of payment (bank transfer, card, nominative deposit). No cash. If you requested abono de cuotas, keep sending proofs in the deadlines they indicate so they can pay them.

Time-saving tips

1. Get nominative quotes (with your name/NIF) and the payment method. The SEPE hates vague documents.
2. If you plan to deduct VAT, don’t include it in the capitalised investment. They will reject it.
3. Add relevant training if you really need it: it's usually accepted and helps your case.
4. Split the plan: some to investment and some to cuotas if cashflow looks tight in the first months.
5. Upload everything in clear PDF. Fewer requests = fewer delays.

Common mistakes that can mess this up

1. Registering as active before applying. Classic denial reason.
2. Including personal items or mixed-use goods without proving business use (car, phone, laptop used for leisure). They cut the amount or require repayment.
3. Not justifying within 1 month from payment. Refund incoming.
4. Invoices without traceable payment. Cash = trouble. Use transfer, card or a named deposit.
5. Forgetting that the pago único exhausts your benefit. If you don’t start, you’ll have to return it and lose the unemployment benefit until resolved.
6. Ignoring a SEPE request. 10 business days fly by and they can archive your file.