Title: What is Back to Work Enterprise Allowance? > After at least 9 months on a qualifying payment, you can start an approved new business and keep 100% of your payment in year one and 75% in year two. Source: https://pontia.xyz/ie/guide/btwea/ Checked: 25 September 2026 Keep an incomeJob search until approved # What is Back to Work Enterprise Allowance? After at least 9 months on a qualifying payment, you can start an approved new business and keep 100% of your payment in year one and 75% in year two. ## The key facts - 100% of your payment in year 1, 75% in year 2 (including increases for dependants) - Needs 9 months on e.g. Jobseeker’s Allowance, One-Parent Family Payment or Disability Allowance - Approved in writing by Intreo and a Local Development Company before you trade - Not taxable; can be combined with the Enterprise Support Grant (up to €2,500) ## Before you’re approved Job search required ### Job search You stay on Jobseeker’s Allowance, and its job-search conditions, until BTWEA is approved and starts. **Your business work can count.** Your business plan, market research and Start Your Own Business course count as genuinely seeking work. Up to 3 months of market research before BTWEA is allowed. ### What you must do to keep getting it - Meet your Employment Personal Adviser, get referred to your Local Development Company, and do a Start Your Own Business course. - Write the business plan: description, where and how you’ll trade, cash flow and a 1-year projection. Leave the BTWEA payment OUT of the cash flow. - Sign form BTW2 yourself, and do NOT trade until you have written approval. Start within 12 weeks of approval. **If you take or turn down a job:** Refusing suitable work can mean up to 9 weeks’ disqualification. ## While you’re on it No job search required ### Job search BTWEA replaces your jobseeker’s payment and expects you to give the business your full time. No job search. ### What you must do to keep getting it - Register with Revenue as self-employed; bring proof to your 3-month review at the latest. - 3-month and 9-month reviews: bring invoices, order book, bank statements and a customer list. - Return the BTW17A declaration near the end of year 1, or payment is suspended. - Tell your adviser before any trip abroad. File Form 11 and pay by 31 October each year. ### If you earn money BTWEA isn’t means-tested: what your business earns doesn’t reduce it, and neither does a partner’s income. Your profit is taxed, and you pay PRSI at Class S (4.35% from 1 October 2026). **If you take or turn down a job:** You may NOT take a job as an employee while on BTWEA, full or part time. It would end your claim. ## The other route You can’t be on both at once. Compare them before you choose. - [What is Jobseeker’s Allowance while you prepare?Stay on Jobseeker’s Allowance while you research and plan your business. Business research, a business plan an…](https://pontia.xyz/ie/guide/ja-preparing/)[Compare side by side →](https://pontia.xyz/ie/compare/btwea-vs-ja-preparing/) ## Add this to my plan We’ll track your must-dos and deadlines for you, and keep your job-search record. [Add this to my plan](https://pontia.xyz/ie/start/?from=guide&scheme=ie-btwea&status=applying) Free forever · No card · No hidden charges Sources, checked 25 September 2026 - [gov.ie/en/department-of-social-protection/services/back-to-work-enterprise-allowance/](https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-social-protection/services/back-to-work-enterprise-allowance/) - [gov.ie/en/department-of-social-protection/publications/operational-guidelines-back-to-work-enterprise-allowance/](https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-social-protection/publications/operational-guidelines-back-to-work-enterprise-allowance/) - [revenue.ie/en/self-assessment-and-self-employment/guide-to-self-assessment/index.aspx](https://www.revenue.ie/en/self-assessment-and-self-employment/guide-to-self-assessment/index.aspx) This guide explains the official rules in plain words. It isn’t advice about your own claim: your adviser decides. Not a government service. Not financial, tax or legal advice. Cite this page "What is Back to Work Enterprise Allowance?", Pontia, https://pontia.xyz/ie/guide/btwea/ (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/) - [Back to Work Enterprise Allowance calculator](https://pontia.xyz/ie/back-to-work-enterprise-allowance-calculator/) - [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/) - [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: "What is Back to Work Enterprise Allowance?", Pontia, https://pontia.xyz/ie/guide/btwea/ (updated 25 September 2026) Whole site in one file: https://pontia.xyz/llms-full.txt