This project is co-funded by the Government of Ireland through the Department of Social Protection and the European Union.
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance
Roscommon Leader Partnership, in collaboration with the Department of Social Protection, administers both the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme and the Short-Term Enterprise Allowance Scheme. These initiatives empower individuals with entrepreneurial ambitions across various sectors to initiate their businesses while preserving a portion of their social welfare entitlements.
Self-employment emerges as a viable and alternative pathway, with these schemes serving as catalysts to instil motivation and inspiration among unemployed individuals, encouraging them to establish sustainable and inventive enterprises.
The criteria for eligibility for the Schemes are as follows:
1. Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme:
You can access the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance if you meet any of the following criteria:
- Starting a pre-approved self-employed business with written approval from Roscommon Leader Partnership while receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance for 12 months.
- Receiving specific social welfare payments for at least 12 months, including 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, Prisoner’s Wife’s Allowance, or Farm Assist.
- Receiving Illness Benefit for 3 or more years.
- You may also qualify if you are a qualified adult, transferring entitlements to a spouse or partner who becomes self-employed, or if you are a person released from prison meeting eligibility criteria. Certain periods of training and participation in specified programs count as periods of unemployment. Time on Supplementary Welfare Allowance or in Direct Provision counts toward the qualifying period if you were entitled to a qualifying payment before starting the scheme. After a minimum 5-year gap, former participants can reapply.
Participants receive portions of their social welfare payment, including increases for qualified adults and children, for up to 2 years: 100% for the 1st year and 75% for the 2nd year.
2. Short-Term Enterprise Allowance Scheme:
There is no qualifying period to access this allowance, and you can get it immediately if you meet these conditions:
- Qualify for Jobseeker’s Benefit.
- Either have made 104 contributions in the past 2 years or be eligible for statutory redundancy.
The Short-term Enterprise Allowance lasts for a maximum of 1 year and ends when your entitlement to Jobseeker’s Benefit ends (at either 9 months or 12 months). If eligible, you retain 100% of your weekly social welfare payment, including increases for a qualified adult and children, for a maximum of 1 year. It also ends in conjunction with your Jobseeker’s Benefit entitlement.
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