Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2026
501. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are instances in which a person who availed of the back to work enterprise allowance for an upcycle business, but whose business was forced to close for 18 to 24 months due to Covid can avail of the scheme again before the five year waiting period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51733/26]
View answerThe Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) is designed to provide a monetary incentive for people who are in receipt of certain qualifying social welfare payments to develop a business while allowing them to retain a reducing proportion of their qualifying social welfare payment over two years; 100% in year 1 and 75% in year 2. The objective is to support eligible DSP customers to commence self-employment through setting up a new enterprise.
Where BTWEA was approved and in payment for one business and the business ceases, the customer cannot resume or continue their BTWEA payment for a different business until five years has elapsed.
Customers are allowed to resume the BTWEA once, where the BTWEA ceased due to mitigating circumstances. A resumption must always be in respect of the enterprise originally approved for BTWEA.
Mitigating circumstances can include but are not limited to a long-term illness or injury requiring prolonged absence from self-employment or the serious illness of an immediate family member requiring the customer undertaking a caring responsibility.
Other mitigating circumstances may arise can be considered by the officer having regards to all the relevant circumstances of the case.
