Title: 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 and a Start Your Own Business course count as g Source: https://pontia.xyz/ie/guide/ja-preparing/ Checked: 25 September 2026 Keep an incomeJob search required # 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 and a Start Your Own Business course count as genuinely seeking work, and 9 months on it qualify you for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance. ## The key facts - €254 a week from age 25; usually €163.70 at 18–24 living at home (2026) - Genuinely seeking work: bring examples of your steps, business ones included, to Intreo meetings - Plan and research, but don’t start trading: a business that already operated can’t get BTWEA - 234 paid days in a row unlock the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance ## What you must do to keep getting it Job search required ### Job search On Jobseeker’s Allowance you must be available for full-time work and genuinely seeking work, and give examples of the steps you take at your Intreo meetings. **Your business work can count.** Official guidance counts researching self-employment, preparing a business plan and a Start Your Own Business course as genuinely seeking work. Log them. ### What you must do to keep getting it - Do NOT start trading before written approval for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance. A business that already operated is not eligible. - Don’t register a business as self-employed on Jobseeker’s first: you would have to give it up, and your BTWEA business can’t be the same or similar. - BTWEA needs 9 months (234 paid days) in a row on Jobseeker’s Allowance; 12 months for casual claimants, with no more than 30 days’ work. - Declare every day of casual work on MyWelfare (or form UP80). ### If you earn money Declare every day you work. From casual or part-time earnings, €20 a day is ignored for up to 3 days a week, then 60% of the rest counts as means and reduces your payment. If you’re self-employed on Jobseeker’s Allowance, your expected profit over the next 12 months is assessed. **If you take or turn down a job:** Refusing an offer of suitable work can mean up to 9 weeks’ disqualification, and you may be found not genuinely seeking work. ## The other route You can’t be on both at once. Compare them before you choose. - [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 …](https://pontia.xyz/ie/guide/btwea/)[Compare side by side →](https://pontia.xyz/ie/compare/ja-preparing-vs-btwea/) - [What is Short-Term Enterprise Allowance?If you get Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit, you can keep the same weekly payment for up…](https://pontia.xyz/ie/guide/stea/)[Compare side by side →](https://pontia.xyz/ie/compare/ja-preparing-vs-stea/) ## 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-ja-preparing&status=have) Free forever · No card · No hidden charges Sources, checked 25 September 2026 - [citizensinformation.ie/en/social-welfare/unemployed-people/rules-for-getting-a-jobseekers-payment/](https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social-welfare/unemployed-people/rules-for-getting-a-jobseekers-payment/) - [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/) 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 Jobseeker’s Allowance while you prepare?", Pontia, https://pontia.xyz/ie/guide/ja-preparing/ (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/) - [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. 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