Back to Work Enterprise Allowance

Back to Work Enterprise Allowance

Back to Work Enterprise Allowances offer a fantastic opportunity to people who are currently unemployed to set up their own self employed business. The allowances provide financial support to you whilst you are developing your new business.

There are two types of allowance available:

Back to Work Enterprise Allowance:
Suitable for people who have been unemployed for a minimum of 12 months.

Short Term Enterprise Allowance:
Suitable for people who are recently unemployed.

Back to Work Enterprise Allowance

This allowance assists you to set up your own business, whilst still receiving most of your current welfare payments.

Successful applicants:

Will receive a two year financial support package in the form of the retention of your social protection payment (100% in year one and 75% in year 2)
May also be eligible for the Enterprises Support Grant (ESG) to help with business costs (e.g. advertising, insurance, equipment)
Can avail of mentoring support

To qualify:

You need to have been unemployed and in receipt of Jobs Seekers allowance for a minimum of 12 months.
You may also be eligible if you are in receipt of other types of social welfare payments.

Short Term Back to Work Enterprise Allowance

This allowance assists recently unemployed people to set up a self-employed business.

Successful applicants:

Will receive the Short-Term Enterprise Allowance payment instead of your Jobseeker’s Benefit for a maximum of 9 months
May also be eligible for the Enterprises Support Grant (ESG) to help with business costs (e.g. advertising, insurance, equipment)
Can avail of mentoring support

To qualify:

To avail of this allowance you need to be in receipt of Job Seekers Benefit
There is no qualifying period, which means you do not need to have been getting Jobseeker’ Benefit for a certain period of time

Please note that you will not qualify if you are getting Jobseeker’s Benefit and also working part-time.