Back to Work Enterprise Allowance

The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance encourages unemployed people and those receiving other Social Welfare payments to take up self employment opportunities by allowaing them to retain a proportion of their social welfare payment, plus secondary benefits.

The amount of time you can participate on the BTWEA is reduced from 4 years to 2 years
The qualifying period required for BTWEA will be reduced from 2 years to 12 months provided you have an underlying entitlement to Jobseeker's Allowance
You will receive 100% of your social welfare payment for the first year, and 75% for the second year
If you have previously participated in the BTWEA Scheme and exhausted you entitlement, you can participate a second time after a period of at least 5 years has elapsed

Keeping your Social Welfare payment and Self-Employment

You will receive 100% of your Social Welfare payment for the first year, and 75% for the second year
If you have previously participated in the BTWEA Scheme and exhausted your entitlement, you can participate a second time after a period of at least 5 years has elapsed

Qualifying for the BTWEA

You will qualify for the BTWEA if you:

Are setting up a self-employment business that has been approved in advance in writing by a Facilitator or Partnership Company

And

Are 2 years unemployed and getting Jobseeker's Benefit or Allowance during this time or twelve months in receipt of JB with an underlying entitlement to JA

Are receiving a One Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Farm Assist, Incapacity Supplement, Pre-Retirement Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Carer's Allowance, Widow's / Widower's (Non-Contirbutory) Pension, Deserted Wife's Benefit / Allowance, or Prisoner's Wife Allowance for at least 12 months

Are receiving illness Benefit for 3 or more years or
Farm Assist, providing that the self-employment is now in relation to the holding and not the continuation of an existing operation or
Are a person released from prison who satisfies the eligibility criteria for the scheme

Taking up the BTWEA

Contact your local Facilitator to find out how to apply for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance and to find out about additional supports. Your local Social Welfare Office will be able to put you in touch with your Facilitator or you can ring Employment Support Services at LoCall: 1890 927999.

If you live in a Partnership Area, you will need to have your application approved by your Local Partnership Company. Other supports such as access to training, funding etc. can also be sourced through the Partnership.

An Enterprise Officer or Facilitator will look at your business proposal and may discuss certain aspects of it with you. You must not take up self-employment until you have received written approval from a Partnership Company or the Department of Social Protection. If you are accepted on to the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme, you must regrister as self-employed with the Revenue Commissioners.

Secondary Benefits and the BTWEA

Participants may retain any secondary benefits they were in receipt of prior to participation on either scheme.

Qualified Adults - Spousal Swap

The Qualified Adult of a person who is eligible for the BTWEA may be able to do a 'spousal swap' to allow the Qualified Adult to take up self employment under the BTWEA. This involves the main claimant and the Qualified Adult exchanging places on the welfare payment. It is important to ensure this is done properly, please check with the INOU or your local Social Welfare office before doing anything.

Please note: Once entitlement to BTWEA is established, a qualified adult is free to take up employment without affecting the BTWEA.

Helping you Qualify for BTWEA

Periods spent on FÁS or Fáilte Ireland training courses, Community Employment, Community Services Programme, Rural Social Scheme, FIT, FÁS Jobs Inititiative and VTOS, count towards the qualifying period - if you received a qualifying social welfare payment before participating in any of these.
Periods spent in receipt of Supplementary Welfare Allowance and Direct Provision count towards the qualifying period - only if you are receiving a qualifying social welfare payment after thses periods
Periods spent on Live Regristers in the E.U. can be accepted as periods of unemployment provided you have signed the Live Regrister here for at lease 13 weeks
Time spent on other social welfare payments can be combined to make up the qualifying preiod and other additional qualification exceptions may apply, subject to your circumstances. Please check with the INOU for more details.

Not Qualified

Periods on the Revenue Job Assist or FÁS 'Job Start' are not considered as periods of unemployment and do not qualify persons for the BTWEA.

Additional supports

Technical Assistance grants, of up to €1,000, are available to assist you in preparing a business plan, doing market research or product development
Training grants are available to give you the skills necessary to run your business e.g., computer skills, management skills etc.
County / City Enterprise Boards develop enterprise in the area and are responsible for grant aiding and supporting new businesses with less than 5 employees