Title: Back to Work Enterprise Allowance calculator (2026) > See what you’d keep on BTWEA or STEA while you start a business, plus the Enterprise Support Grant. Free, using gov.ie rules. Source: https://pontia.xyz/ie/back-to-work-enterprise-allowance-calculator/ Checked: 25 September 2026 Free · official rates · checked 25 September 2026 # Back to Work Enterprise Allowance calculator Starting a business from a social welfare payment? See what you’d keep over two years on BTWEA, or nine months on STEA, plus the Enterprise Support Grant. Then build a plan to make it work. ## How BTWEA works If you’ve been on a qualifying payment for at least 9 months, you can start an approved new business and keep **100% of your payment in year one and 75% in year two**. An Intreo adviser and a Local Development Company approve it in writing before you start trading. Make every month of your support count Budgets built from your numbers, a clear plan, and the tools to build it. Free. [Start my plan](https://pontia.xyz/ie/start?scheme=ie-btwea&status=applying&from=ie-calculator-mid) ## BTWEA or STEA? If you get **Jobseeker’s Benefit** or Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit, the Short-Term Enterprise Allowance keeps your weekly rate for up to 9 months. Everyone approved can also apply for the **Enterprise Support Grant** towards start-up costs. ## Questions How much do you keep on the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance?+ 100% of your social welfare payment in year one and 75% in year two, including increases for a qualified adult and children. It is not taxable. Who can get BTWEA?+ People who have been on a qualifying payment such as Jobseeker’s Allowance, One-Parent Family Payment or Disability Allowance for at least 9 months, starting a new business approved in writing before they trade. I’m on Jobseeker’s Benefit. What can I get?+ The Short-Term Enterprise Allowance: your same weekly rate for up to 9 months while you start an approved business. There is no minimum time on the payment. What is the Enterprise Support Grant?+ Up to €2,500 on BTWEA (€1,000 on a 9-month STEA) towards costs like equipment, insurance and marketing. You pay at least 20% of each cost yourself. Sources, checked 25 September 2026 - [gov.ie: Back to Work Enterprise Allowance](https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-social-protection/services/back-to-work-enterprise-allowance/) - [gov.ie: Short-Term Enterprise Allowance](https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-social-protection/services/short-term-enterprise-allowance-stea/) - [gov.ie: Enterprise Support Grant](https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-social-protection/services/enterprise-support-grant/) Estimate and guidance only. Estimate and guidance only. Confirm with your benefit office, the official website or an adviser. Rules change, and your situation changes the outcome. Not a government service. Not financial, tax or legal advice. ## Your start-up support is a head start. Use it well. Plan your money, pick what you’ll build, and get the tools to build it. Free, and nobody sees your plan but you. [Sign up free](https://pontia.xyz/ie/start?scheme=ie-btwea&status=applying&from=ie-calculator-end) Free forever · No card · No hidden charges Cite this page "Back to Work Enterprise Allowance calculator (2026)", Pontia, https://pontia.xyz/ie/back-to-work-enterprise-allowance-calculator/ (updated 25 September 2026) ## Related guides and tools - [Start your business and keep your payment](https://pontia.xyz/ie/) - [Genuinely seeking work, made simple](https://pontia.xyz/ie/genuinely-seeking-work/) - [Your idea. Your call. Real backing to start it.](https://pontia.xyz/ie/young-people/) - [Ireland start-up support for jobseekers in figures, 2026](https://pontia.xyz/ie/datasets/ie-startup-support/) - [Jobseeker’s Allowance while you prepare vs Back to Work Enterprise Allowance](https://pontia.xyz/ie/compare/ja-preparing-vs-btwea/) - [Jobseeker’s Allowance while you prepare vs Short-Term Enterprise Allowance](https://pontia.xyz/ie/compare/ja-preparing-vs-stea/) - [Jobseeker’s Allowance while you prepare](https://pontia.xyz/ie/guide/ja-preparing/) - [Back to Work Enterprise Allowance](https://pontia.xyz/ie/guide/btwea/) - [Short-Term Enterprise Allowance](https://pontia.xyz/ie/guide/stea/) --- Pontia is free and independent. It is not a government service and not financial, tax, legal or benefits advice; always check the official source linked on the page. Some tool links are affiliate links: we may earn a fee at no cost to you, and free options come first. Contact: hello@pontia.xyz Cite as: "Back to Work Enterprise Allowance calculator (2026)", Pontia, https://pontia.xyz/ie/back-to-work-enterprise-allowance-calculator/ (updated 25 September 2026) Whole site in one file: https://pontia.xyz/llms-full.txt