Have you heard about JobsPlus?
If not, this is an incentive which encourages and rewards employers who offer employment opportunities to persons with disabilities who are unemployed.
The scheme rewards employers with two levels of payment: €7,500 or €10,000 over 18 months, with the level of payment depending on the age of the jobseeker and the length of time in receipt of a qualifying payment.
Eligibility Criteria
For an employer to be eligible, they must complete the JobsPlus online application for employers and employees and submit it to the Department of Social Protection. This is then checked and verified to see that the tax clearance certificate is in place; if the application is successful, they can then start the recruitment process.
Reminder: Employers must ensure the possible candidate fills out the JobsPlus employee eligibility form if they wish to get a claim.
Once the candidate is offered a position, they should contact the department to close their jobseeker’s claim. This can be done online at the Close My Jobseeker's Claim or by contacting their local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office. Payment of JobsPlus can only start once the department has confirmed that the new employee's jobseeker claim has closed.
Rates of payment
Payments are made electronically every month over a period of 18 months. These payments are not considered taxable for income or corporate tax purposes, and employees must be subjected to PAYE and PRSI (Class A) payments.
Grant €7,500 payable over 18 months:
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Jobseeker, Disability Allowance / Blind Pension recipient aged under 30 |
Jobseeker recipients includes claimants of: Jobseekers Allowance, Jobseekers Benefit, Jobseekers Self Employed, Part-Time Job Incentive and Credits Only claims. Disability Allowance and Blind Pension included from January 2023 |
Must have 4 months (104 days) in the previous 6 months |
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Jobseeker, Disability Allowance/Blind Pension recipient aged over 30 and under 50 |
Jobseeker recipients includes claimants of: Jobseekers Allowance, Jobseekers Benefit, Jobseekers Self Employed, Part-Time Job Incentive and Credits Only claims. Disability Allowance and Blind Pension included from January 2023 |
Must have 12 months (312 days) in the previous 18 months |
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Persons with Refugee Status in receipt of a qualifying payments |
No qualifying period applies |
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Jobseekers Transitional Payment |
Former One-Parent Family Payment customers whose youngest child is at least 7 years of age and under 14, who transfer to the live register and are in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance Transitional Payment |
No qualifying period applies |
Grant €10,000 payable over 18 months:
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Jobseeker, Disability Allowance/Blind Pension recipient aged under 50 |
Jobseeker recipients includes claimants of: Jobseekers Allowance, Jobseekers Benefit, Jobseekers Self Employed, Part-Time Job Incentive and Credits Only claims. Disability Allowance and Blind Pension included from January 2023 |
Must have 24 months unemployed in the previous 30 months |
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Jobseeker, Disability Allowance / Blind Pension recipient aged over 50 |
Jobseeker recipients includes claimants of: Jobseekers Allowance, Jobseekers Benefit, Jobseekers Self Employed, Part-Time Job Incentive and Credits Only claims. Disability Allowance and Blind Pension included from January 2023 |
Must have 12 months (312 days) in the previous 18 months |
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Traveller or person of Roma ethnicity in receipt of a qualifying payment |
4 months (104) days in the previous 6 months |
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Person in receipt of a qualifying payment with a recent criminal record or a history of addiction (within previous 5 years) |
4 months (104) days in the previous 6 months |
Note: Time spent on a range of other education, training, work placement and activation support schemes can be considered when determining the required number of days in receipt of a qualifying payment.
Time spent in prison may count towards the qualifying time once entitlement to a qualifying social welfare payment is re-established.
Jobseekers not in receipt of jobseeker’s payment and signing for PRSI jobseeker credits will also be eligible once they are the required number of days on the live register.
Application Links
Check the department website to learn more about JobsPlus