The Short-Term Enterprise Allowance (STEA) gives support to people who have lost their job and want to start their own business.

To qualify you must be getting Jobseeker’s Benefit. There is no qualifying period, which means you do not need to have been in receipt of Jobseeker’s Benefit for a certain period of time. However, you will not qualify if you are getting Jobseeker’s Benefit and working part-time.

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 meet one of the following criteria:

• Have been awarded Job Seekers Benefit
• Be in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance for 312 days (1 year)
• Be in receipt of One Parent Family Payment, Invalidity Pension, Disability Allowance, Carers Allowance, Widows Pension for 12 months
• Be in receipt of Illness Benefit for 3 years

For more information visit Welfare.ie or Citizensinformation.ie

The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme, is a Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Scheme which supports people getting certain social welfare payments to become self-employed. If you take part in the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme you can keep a percentage of your social welfare payment for up to 2 years.  Clare Local Development Company, through SICAP, administers the application phase of the BTWEA scheme.

To qualify for the BTWEA

• You must be in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance for 312 days (1 year), or
• You must be in receipt of One Parent Family Payment, Invalidity Pension, Disability Allowance, Carers Allowance, Widows Pension for 12 months, or
• You must be in receipt of Illness Benefit for 3 years.

Note: The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme is a two year scheme with 100% entitlement in year one and 75% in year two.

For more information visit Welfare.ie or Citizens Information