The HUF 219,000 payments, equivalent to one month's minimum wage, aim to support the recovery for self-employed Hungarians working as hairdressers, cosmeticians, tour guides, and driving instructors, among other professions.

Self-employed Hungarians were not eligible for pandemic wage support earlier available to companies with people on payroll.

Bodó said hairdressers and cosmeticians account for the highest number of applications, adding that cosmeticians alone have submitted around 25,000 applications.

The government has estimated that 100,000-120,000 self-employed Hungarians are eligible for the stimulus.