BTWEA & STEA Application Process & Eligibility

Back To Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA)

Review eligibility and then contact your case officer in Bishop Square INTREO or Cork St INTREO for a Suitability of Assessment Referral to our Enterprise Team

BTWEA applicants in receipt of one of the above payments must be:

(*Casuals MUST cease their casual employment before commencing on BTWEA – this should be evidenced by a P45.)

Enterprise Officers will discuss with applicants their business idea and establish if it is a new business and the levels of Displacement & Market Saturation the creation of this business will have on pre-existing businesses.

What does Back to Work Enterprise Allowance provide?

The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme offers effective support for unemployed individuals interested in self-employment as a route to (re-) entering the labour market and also plays a useful role in supporting the development of new enterprises.

Support services

Those interested in BTWEA are referred from Intreo Centres to the Enterprise Officer in their Local Development Company who assists them in analysing their options, exploring the viability of their business idea and preparing a business plan to outline their new enterprise. Upon completion of the BTWEA application and the business plan the DSP Case Officer/Advisor will review the new enterprise proposal and make a recommendation to the deciding officer in the Intreo Centre. Once accepted onto the scheme these new enterprises can then avail of the supports from the DSP Case Officer/Advisor and mentoring from their Local Development Company over the two years of the scheme.

The package of supports available to participants under the BTWEA consists of:

A weekly payment equivalent to the full value of the main social welfare payment in the first year, tapering to three-quarters of the value in the second year of operation of the enterprise
Removal of the requirement to satisfy the condition of genuinely seeking work and being available for work to receive the weekly allowance
Potential retention of secondary benefits; including medical card where the entitlement existed prior to BTWEA
Access to support and advice by the DEASP Case Officer
Access to support, advice and mentoring by an Enterprise Officer in a Local Development Company (LDC) through the SICAP programme
Access to the DEASP funded Enterprise Support Grant (on approval by a DEASP Case Officer)

Short-Term Enterprise Allowance (STEA)

Review eligibility and then contact your case officer in Bishop Square INTREO or Cork St INTREO for a Suitability of Assessment Referral to our Enterprise Team

The Short-Term Enterprise Allowance (STEA) supports you if you have lost your job and want to start your own business.

The Short-Term Enterprise Allowance is paid instead of your Jobseeker’s Benefit for a maximum of 9 months. It ends when your entitlement to Jobseeker’s Benefit ends (that is, at either 9 or 6 months).

To qualify for the Short-Term Enterprise Allowance you must be getting, or have an entitlement to, Jobseeker’s Benefit.

The client must obtain written recommendation from LDC and the department’s Case Officer in advance of commencing self- employment.

Seasonal, temporary or part-time self-employment does not qualify for the STEA. You must contact the department immediately if your self-employment ends or you take up employment.

If you are unemployed when your entitlement to STEA ends you will not immediately re-qualify for Jobseeker’s Benefit. However, you can apply for Jobseeker’s Allowance which is a means-tested payment.

Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must satisfy the following conditions:

Rates Structure

The STEA replaces the participant’s Jobseeker’s Benefit. On transfer to STEA, a qualifying person is paid at the appropriate JB rate until entitlement to JB expires. These are set rates that do not vary, except where a qualified adult makes a claim for DEASP payment in his/her own right

Extra Benefits

Participants in the STEA scheme may retain any secondary benefits that they received with JB such as a Medical Card, Back to School Clothing & Footwear allowance, Diet Supplement, Rent Supplement or Mortgage Interest Supplement under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme, subject to certain conditions.

Step By Step Guide To The Application Process

Step 1

Contact a Case Officer in INTREO to ask if you are eligible for BTWEA or STEA.

Step 2

INTREO Case Officer refers you to Dublin South City Partnership for a pre-enterprise support appointment. INTREO sends referral letter and Assessment of Suitability form to DSCP Enterprise Team.

Step 3

DSCP Enterprise Team registers you as an enterprise client, shares all of the relevant forms with you and explains the process.

Step 4

DSCP Enterprise Team registers you for their “Start Your Own Business Course” (mandatory for all applications) and Revenue File & Return workshops.

Step 5

DSCP Enterprise Team reviews all forms and additional support requirement and decides if forms are ready for submission to INTREO or if further support is required.

Step 6

DSCP Enterprise Team refers for mentoring and provide additional enterprise workshops.

Step 7

Enterprise Client (You) submits all forms printed and signed to DSCP Enterprise Manager for final submission. DSCP Enterprise Manager reviews, signs, stamps and submits to INTREO for approval.

Step 8

Enterprise client receives update and approval/refusal from INTREO.

Step 9

Enterprise Client submits Enterprise Support Grant quotes to INTREO for approval and continues to receive post-enterprise mentoring and training supports from DSCP Enterprise Team.

Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) / Short Term Enterprise Allowance Application Process (STEA)

BACK TO WORK ENTERPRISE ALLOWANCE

Back To Work Enterprise Allowance forms

TR1 or TR2 and/or Proof registered as self-employed with ROS
Back to work Business Plan Workbook
12 month cash flow projections
Copies of all relevant qualifications, licences, permits, registration
Accreditation, including CRO registration
TAX Clearance Certificate ETC/TCAN

STEA Forms For Application Process

SHORT TERM ENTERPRISE ALLOWANCE

Short Term Enterprise Allowance Application Form
TR1 or TR2 and/or proof registered with ROS
Back to work Business Plan Workbook
12 month cash flow projections
Copies of all relevant qualifications, licences, permits, registration
Accreditation, including CRO registration
TAX Clearance Certificate ETC/TCAN

Preparing Your BTWEA / STEA Forms

ENSURE EVERYTHING IS IN ORDER

Read all of the forms downloaded or emailed to you.
Complete the BTWEA/STEA Application Form & Business Plan Workbook first.
Remember to fill in what you have invested yourself and what you would require the Enterprise Support Grant for.
Then complete the Cash Flow Projections, ensure it corresponds with the Business Plan Workbook.
DO NOT include BTWEA/STEA Payment. Discuss with DSCP Enterprise and undertake all training to support
with documents, Start Your Own Business, Revenue, Accountant Online Q&A.
Discuss all Permits/Regulations with DSCP Enterprise and clarify what is required for registration, CRO, ROS, and TCAN and timeline.

Complete, Sign, Review Checklist & Submit To DSCP

12 WEEK PROCESS TO APPLY NO TIMELINE ON APPROVALS

When all documents are complete and every item on the checklist has been submitted to DSCP Enterprise for Review,
You will then be asked to print, sign and send the full submission to DSCP Enterprise so they can sign,
stamp and recommend to INTREO for final approval.