Thousands of people can claim €232 a week while working plus €2,500 grant

Thousands of people are eligible to claim a weekly social welfare payment of €232 even if they are working.

There are a number of social welfare schemes that allow you to work and claim payments at the same time, such as the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme.

It encourages people who are getting certain social welfare payments to become self-employed, and they can continue to claim their payment for up to two years while doing so.

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As well as the weekly payment, you can also be eligible for a grant of a combined amount up to €2,500 to help with the costs of setting up your business.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme and how to claim.

Who qualifies for BTWEA?

You can qualify for a Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) if you are:

1. Setting up as self-employed in a new business that has been approved in advance in writing by a DSP Case Officer and a Local Development Company

   and

2. Getting Jobseeker’s Benefit (JB) or Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) continuously for at least 9 months (234 days). If you have been getting either of these payments continuously for 12 months (312 days) immediately before BTWEA, you can have a maximum of 30 days off the Live Register during this time

or

Getting one of the qualifying payments below continuously for at least 9 months

• Jobseeker’s Transitional payment (JST)
• One-Parent Family Payment (OFP)
• Blind Pension
• Disability Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance (full rate) – having stopped caring duties
• Deserted Wife’s Benefit/Allowance
• Farm Assist – the new business cannot be in relation to the farm holding or the continuation of an existing business
• Invalidity Pension
• Incapacity Supplement
• Widow’s/Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension

  or

• Qualifying from Illness Benefit: 3 out of last 5 years in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment

or

• Combination of OFP/JST/JA continuously for 9 months

If you are on Jobseeker’s Benefit, you need to have an underlying entitlement to Jobseeker’s Allowance in order to qualify for BTWEA. Having an underlying entitlement to Jobseeker’s Allowance means that you would pass the means test and other criteria for Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Enterprise Support Grant

In addition to income support (your weekly payment), you can also get financial support with the costs of setting up your business. These supports are provided under a scheme called the Enterprise Support Grant (ESG).

You can only get the ESG if you have been approved for the BTWEA. The business plan you submit as part of your application for the scheme must set out the rationale and requirement for financial support. The ESG can pay a total of €2,500 in any 24-month period. You must be able to make a matching contribution of at least 10% to access grant support. For more information on the grant, click here.

How much is BTWEA?

If you qualify for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance you can keep the following portion of your social welfare payment, including increases for a qualified adult and qualified children, for a maximum of 2 years:

• 100% for the 1st year
• 75% for the 2nd year

For anyone on Jobseeker’s Allowance or Benefit, this is €232 a week for the 1st year and €174 a week for the 2nd year.

How to apply

To apply for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, complete application form BTW 2.

You should return form BTW 2 to the Case Officer in your Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office.

The Case Officer will look at your business proposal and may discuss certain aspects of it with you. You may then be referred to your Local Development Company. You must not take up self-employment until you have received written approval from the DSP.