Back to Work Enterprise Allowance
Back to Work & Short-Term Enterprise Allowance Business Start Up Schemes for the Unemployed
Roscommon Leader Partnership manages the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme and the Short Enterprise Allowance Scheme in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection.These Schemes enable those who have business ideas from any sector to start up their businesses while at the same time retaining some of their social welfare benefits. Self employment can be a real and alternative option and the above schemes can serve to motivate and inspire unemployed people into setting up viable and innovative businesses.
The criteria for eligibility for the Schemes are as follows:
1. Back to Work Enterprise Allowance SchemeYou can avail of the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance if you are:
Setting up as self-employed in a business that has been approved in advance in writing by Roscommon Leader Partnership and Getting a Jobseeker’s Allowance for 12 months
or
Getting 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 Contributory) Pension, Deserted Wife’s Benefit/Allowance or Prisoner’s Wife’s Allowance, Farm Assist for at least 12 months
or
Getting Illness Benefit for 3 or more years
You may also be considered for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme if you are:
A qualified adult of a person eligible to claim the BWEA. This involves the person who is eligible for the BWEA transferring his or her entitlements to their spouse or partner. (In other words, the spouse or partner becomes self-employed and the original claimant becomes the qualified adult on the BWEA). If the original claimant is entitled to credits, he or she can continue to claim them.A person released from prison who satisfies the eligibility criteria for the scheme. Periods of time spent in FÁS Training, Community Employment, the Community Services Programme, Job Initiative, CERT, Teagasc, FIT and Back to Education Schemes are accepted as periods of unemployment.
Time spent on Supplementary Welfare Allowance or in Direct Provision can count towards the qualifying period for BWEA provided you are entitled to a qualifying payment before starting on the scheme.
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.
Participants will keep the following portions of their 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
2. Short-Term Enterprise Allowance Scheme
There is no qualifying period. You can get immediate access to the allowance but you must meet the qualifying conditions.
To qualify you must have:
An entitlement to Jobseeker’s Benefit
and
Either 104 contributions paid in the past 2 years or qualify for statutory redundancy.
The Short-term Enterprise Allowance will be paid to you for a maximum of 1 year. It will end when your entitlement to Jobseeker’s Benefit ends (that is, at either 9 months or 12 months).
If you qualify for the Short-term Enterprise Allowance, you will keep 100% of your weekly social welfare payment, including increases for a qualified adult and qualified children. It will be paid to you for a maximum of 1 year. It will end when your entitlement to Jobseeker’s Benefit ends (that is, at either 9 months or 12 months).
How to apply for either Business Startup Schemes:
You will be required to:- Complete application forms BTW 2 for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme or STEA 1 for the Short Term Enterprise Allowance Scheme
- Complete Eligibility to Apply for Enterprise Scheme Form
- Complete a Business Plan by availing of our mentoring supports
- Form a legal entity as a Sole Trader or Partnership or Limited Company by Guarantee