Starting a company while on dole (X&O's)

DanGlee

Hi,

Just a quick question as I have not got around to discussing with the welfare people.

I am in the process of starting my own business and since I'm still on credits (recently made redundant) I can go on the X & O's thing (never on dole before, so all new to me)

I understand the principle of the X & O's where you mark the days you worked... what I don't understand is, is it done weekly or monthly? I half recall hearing weekly. Does this mean I have to go to the welfare office every week? I mean, its bad enough going to that horrible, horrible place once I month and if I'm to start my own business, I'm 'HOPING!!!' to be busy a lot of the time...

Just any info people can give me on how it works would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Tomthepost

DanGlee wrote: »

Hi,

Just a quick question as I have not got around to discussing with the welfare people.

I am in the process of starting my own business and since I'm still on credits (recently made redundant) I can go on the X & O's thing (never on dole before, so all new to me)

I understand the principle of the X & O's where you mark the days you worked... what I don't understand is, is it done weekly or monthly? I half recall hearing weekly. Does this mean I have to go to the welfare office every week? I mean, its bad enough going to that horrible, horrible place once I month and if I'm to start my own business, I'm 'HOPING!!!' to be busy a lot of the time...

Just any info people can give me on how it works would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Hi Dan,

Just go to that horrible horrible place and ask about the back to work enterprise allowance. You will have to have to create a business plan and get approval of it from your local enterprise board and partnership group. They tend to drag it out a bit!!
After all forms are complete
1: Back to Work Enterprise Form
2: Enterprise Workbook Business Plan
3: Self-Employed tax form.
You go back to social welfare.
If they sign off on it you will get the same allowance you are currently getting for the first 12 months period. For example say you are on the scratcher for 4 months then you will get your current payment for the next 8 months.
In year 2 you get 75% of that amount.
You will also be entitled to medical card and a few other perks.
Great thing is payments will go into your bank account and you will no longer have to go into that horrible place.;)

RoadKillTs

Do you not have to be on the dole for a year before you qualify for that allowance?
Link

Tomthepost

That is a thing of the past. You can get it now if you are out of work for 3 months.

RoadKillTs

That is a thing of the past. You can get it now if you are out of work for 3 months.

Thats really good. They should update their site, I'm sure a lot of people would be interested in that allowance.

spmccann

DanGlee

If ya don't ask ya dont get so go ask. I hope it goes well for you. Its more people like you we need to get us back on the road to recovery. I wish you well in your endeavor.

Sean

MOH

Just make sure you have all the BWEA steps followed before you set the business up.

wackjob

you should also consider the seed capital scheme, it gives you an income tax rebate for all funds invested in the business.

Enterprise Ireland are also worth talking too, can be helpful in a start up

wackjob

http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/leaflets/it15.html

patwicklow

DanGlee wrote: »

Hi,

Just a quick question as I have not got around to discussing with the welfare people.

I am in the process of starting my own business and since I'm still on credits (recently made redundant) I can go on the X & O's thing (never on dole before, so all new to me)

I understand the principle of the X & O's where you mark the days you worked... what I don't understand is, is it done weekly or monthly? I half recall hearing weekly. Does this mean I have to go to the welfare office every week? I mean, its bad enough going to that horrible, horrible place once I month and if I'm to start my own business, I'm 'HOPING!!!' to be busy a lot of the time...

Just any info people can give me on how it works would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

dan im doing the same iv done all the leg work the form filling been to the enterprise board got approved now got to set up company name with the cro,fill the tax forms in ect and go back to the office and try get a start up grant off them dont really know how much but banks wont go near me,so i sould be nearly up and running in jan/feb please god il let you know how im getting on,

DanGlee

Thanks guys,

I should have mentioned I've done most of what people have said.

The strange thing is, I actually went into the welfare office with the BWEA form filled in and he said I wont be on that yet, as thats for people who are on job seekers allowance, I'm still on my credits until March, so thats why he just said go to your hatch and tell them your on the X and O's thing... thats why i don't understand how it works? Never heard about getting dole into my bank account. And thats kinds why I wondered if I collect the dole weekely and he said fill the XO form weekly, it means I would have to go to dole office weekly? (if that makes sense?)

On another note, from a previous poster (patwicklow) I got a phone call from the enterprise board and they are giving me a grant, its not huge, as I don't need loads to get going, but the way they split it is weird. I got €200 from enterprise board and €1000 from the welfare. I would have thought the enterprise board would have give me more? Still, I'm chuffed, I have €1200 to get going (and for all people who think they might be able to blag free money, you can't, they want receipts for everything!)

So the next step, and the hard part is getting the website up and running! I'm not a bad programmer (worked in IT for years, just not as a programmer specifically) and I don't really like it, but I'm in the process of creating my own site (big saving there!) its coming along nicely, just slow going is all!

Anyway, I'm on christmas holidays now, so its time to down tools and enjoy my son's first Christmas (he only 7 months, so not really a clue whats going on!) Then back to the grind in the new year!

I keep you posted how things going... expect to see plenty of posts on here advertising myself for free

DG.

chrism2007

for people on the Xs and Os theres no queuing. theres a box at the front door you just drop it in once a week

the employer used to have to sign it also but now they dont

blank_screen

I would also be interested in these grants from EB and this "horrible horrible place" too, but if someone could explain to me what X&O means? I couldnt find anything on google except for hugs and kisses...

chrism2007

blank_screen wrote: »

I would also be interested in these grants from EB and this "horrible horrible place" too, but if someone could explain to me what X&O means? I couldnt find anything on google except for hugs and kisses...

when someone works on random days due to there not being enough work they get forms off the dole office.

they put an x in the days they havent worked and a circle in the days they have (or maybe the opposite)

they than get paid for the days they didnt work after putting the form in a box in the dole office.

they work two weeks in arrears i think

lenny1020

Hi Folks.
I am in a slightly different position but yet similar.
I am on stamps as I was made redundant four months ago.
I have qualified for Stamps but will not qualify for Unemployment benefit.
The reason for this is that we also have a family business .So when my stamps run out in about 30 weeks thats it.
Myself and another man have formed a Company.All done now and nearly ready to start work.Finance is in place.Equipment bought,Website live and Grant aid is approved and on the way.
I have not informed the social welfare yet as there will be no income from the new business for maybe another three months.
Will I loose my stamps if I inform them .that is despite no income from the new Business.
I inquired at the start and was told there was no benefits or tax clawback for Stamp reciepients.
Sorry for being so long with my story.
Thanks Guys.