Short term enteprise allowance ?

Rev. Kitchen

Just a quick 3 questions !! As i have looked everywhere for an answer to this and even asked 3 times in the SW office but they dont have a clue. Perhaps someone else has been through a similar process.

Quick back ground im out of work since May, i am looking to set up my own business i was going to apply for the short term enteprise allowance which will pay the remainder of my Benifit (stamps) untill next may. But after that i think im on my own. As its a start up business and in contruction i cant see that i will make any money at all for the next year or two. So once may comes ill be broke and as i was self employed up to may i dont think ill be able to sign back on. Is this correct ?

My other option is to sit on my ass doing nothing (which i dont want to do) untill the 12 months are up and i move from Benifit to Allowance and can then apply for the normal enteprise allowance. Which is harder to get but does offer a fall back of payments for the next 4 years decreasing all the time (100-25%). It isnt much but it would offer me the piece of mind to give the business a go.

3rd option i guess would be to just take a job as it comes, sign off for the duration while im working and them sign back on once im finished that job. Can i register as a sole trader and do that or will i be classed as self employed and loose my benifit ?

Any advice please ? i know that is a bit of a muddle above but the whole system is so complicated and ive been to the SW office and the citizens advice offices and around 3 other SW organisations and they just keep sending me to the next organisation. Im at my wits end i can basically takea chance and loose it all business & house etc or sit on my ass and at least be able to pay the mortgage from the dole money (barely).

TheRealist

Rev. Kitchen wrote: »

Just a quick 3 questions !! As i have looked everywhere for an answer to this and even asked 3 times in the SW office but they dont have a clue. Perhaps someone else has been through a similar process.

Quick back ground im out of work since May, i am looking to set up my own business i was going to apply for the short term enteprise allowance which will pay the remainder of my Benifit (stamps) untill next may. But after that i think im on my own. As its a start up business and in contruction i cant see that i will make any money at all for the next year or two. So once may comes ill be broke and as i was self employed up to may i dont think ill be able to sign back on. Is this correct ?

My other option is to sit on my ass doing nothing (which i dont want to do) untill the 12 months are up and i move from Benifit to Allowance and can then apply for the normal enteprise allowance. Which is harder to get but does offer a fall back of payments for the next 4 years decreasing all the time (100-25%). It isnt much but it would offer me the piece of mind to give the business a go.

3rd option i guess would be to just take a job as it comes, sign off for the duration while im working and them sign back on once im finished that job. Can i register as a sole trader and do that or will i be classed as self employed and loose my benifit ?

Any advice please ? i know that is a bit of a muddle above but the whole system is so complicated and ive been to the SW office and the citizens advice offices and around 3 other SW organisations and they just keep sending me to the next organisation. Im at my wits end i can basically takea chance and loose it all business & house etc or sit on my ass and at least be able to pay the mortgage from the dole money (barely).

I don't have an answer for you but just to let you know, the BTWE allowance has been changed and now only offers support for 2 years (100%, 75%)
This may influence your decision I suppose.

StayDown

I'm in the same boat as yourself Rev. Kitchen.

I spoke to my SWO and was amazed to be told that they nothing about it, when I explained to them I saw it on there website, they said 'oh, maybe thats a new thing' :rolleyes:

Anyways, I got to speak to the job facilitator in the SWO who said it should not be a problem to get the short term enterprise allowence and told me I would have to get approved by a local area partnership. Of I went and got an appointment and met the partnership and had a really good chat. I got approved and am still deciding what to do.

I have eight months of job seekers benefit left, while this is good, I feel it would be better to wait and do the two year enterprise allowance scheme as it would be more money to fall back on to pay the bills when the work is not coming in.

At the moment, they said I can work up to three days a week and not lose my benefit, so thats not a bad thing either.

Hope this helps!


The rules have chaged regarding the long term enterprise allowence:

From 1 May 2009, new participants will keep the following portions of their social welfare payment, including increases for a qualified adult and qualified children, for a maximum of 2 years:

• 100% for the 1st year
• 75% for the 2nd year.

How to apply

To apply for either the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance or the Short-term Enterprise Allowance, complete application form BTW 2.
If you live in a Partnership Area, you should return form BTW 2 to the Local Partnership Company for referral to the Partnership's Enterprise Officer. If you live in a non-Partnership Area, you should return form BTW 2 to your Social Welfare Local Office for referral to the Department of Social and Family Affairs' Jobs Facilitator.

The Enterprise Officer or Jobs Facilitator will look at your business proposal and may discuss certain aspects of it with you. You must not take up self-employment until you have received written approval fromthe Partnership Company or the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

If you are accepted on to the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance or Short-term Enterprise Allowance, you must register as self-employed with the Revenue Commissioners. You can find further information on self-employment from your local tax office.

Rev. Kitchen

That helps allright, i think while the short term allowance is a good idea it isnt the best option. I think waiting and at least trying to get the long term allowance would be worth it.