Publication
Operational Guidelines: JobsPlus
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
JobsPlus is an employer incentive which encourages and rewards employers who offer employment opportunities to the long term unemployed. Regular payments will be made to qualifying employers to offset wage costs where they engage jobseekers from the live register. Eligible employers who recruit full time employees may apply for the incentive.
This incentive is designed to encourage employers and businesses to focus their recruitment efforts on those who have been out of work for long periods.
The incentive is provided in the form of a monthly payment to employers by electronic fund transfer from DSP. The rates applicable are set out in 3.1 below.
The European Commission is providing co-funding to JobsPlus for participants under 25 years. JobsPlus is jointly backed by the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) and the European Social Fund (ESF) and DSP on an equal funding basis.
As part of the requirements to obtain this funding, participants under 25 should be made aware of this funding. All JobsPlus related documentation and websites should have the ESF and European Structural logo along with a statement that those under 25s are co-funded as above.
The JobsPlus incentive is in operation since early July 2013 and has been available for all eligible full time recruitment on or after July 1st 2013. To be considered eligible, the business must be registered as a PAYE employer with the Revenue Commissioners. There are no limits to the number of eligible employees any one employer may hire under the incentive.
The incentive is open to employers in the private, community, not-for-profit and voluntary sectors.
In order to qualify an employer must offer full time employment of at least 30 hours per week, spanning at least four days per week to eligible recruits (i.e. that employee must be on payroll and subject to PAYE and Class A PRSI).
The employer must be a legal entity and/or a charity recognised by the Revenue Commissioners (with a CHY number) and registered with the Revenue Commissioners as a PAYE employer. Other legally recognised forms of business are eligible, including partnerships, sole traders, trusts, and unincorporated bodies provided these are recognised by the Revenue Commissioners and are registered as a PAYE employer.
The incentive is available to employers filling new positions or vacancies that arise as a consequence of natural turnover such as retirements. Employers will be asked to give details of their workforce prior to application, in cases where an increase in work force is not evident, an employer will be asked to provide additional information to DSP to support the application.
The incentive is not payable until an officer of DSP is satisfied that the employee has closed their jobseekers claim and is no longer in receipt of a payment.
An employer in receipt of the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) may qualify for the scheme. Start-up employers may also be eligible where evidence is provided that the business has commenced operations.
An employer availing of JobsPlus may be constrained in receiving aid from other State sources for the employment costs of the same employee.
An employer must declare any other State funding received towards the employment costs of an employee when applying to DSP. If an employer subsequently applies to any other State body (e.g. IDA, Enterprise Ireland, Údarás na Gaeltachta, County Enterprise Boards, etc.) after receiving JobsPlus aid, the JobsPlus aid must be declared to that body.
An employer will also be restricted in receiving support under JobsPlus if they are receiving support or propose to apply for support, from other State sources to support the JobsPlus employment (for example; publicly funded positions, or where support is provided under the Community Services Programme, Community Employment). JobsPlus is not payable for any employment positions also included under other State funded wage supports.
An employer deemed as a public service body within the meaning of a ‘public service body’ is not eligible for the incentive. A person or body funded by the Oireachtas including (employers providing services on behalf of the Department of Social Protection) or by the Central Fund and in respect of which a public service pension scheme exists or may be made is defined as a public service body. This also includes schools, boards of management and education providers wholly or partly funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science .
An employer must be tax compliant. Employers must give DSP permission to check their status with the Revenue Commissioners. Employers must supply a tax clearance access number (TCAN) at the time of application. Before a payment is made an employer’s TCAN is automatically checked and where it cannot be validated payment will not issue. Employers can obtain their TCAN by downloading direct from www.ros.ie or through their accountant.
While the amount of pay is for agreement between the employer and employee, under the National Minimum Wage Act 2015 employees are entitled to a minimum wage and all employers recruiting under this incentive should ensure they comply with the conditions as set out in the Act.
Before applying, an employer must be satisfied that the vacancy they wish to recruit to is available and complies with the rules and conditions of this incentive. The employer must be fully compliant with current workplace health and safety and all other legal requirements relating to the operation of the employment.
The job must be a full-time position. The job being offered must be for a minimum of 30 hours per week and the employee must work at least 4 days in any 7 day period.
Part-time employment and jobs which are short-term and/or seasonal are not eligible under the JobsPlus incentive.
Employment that is deemed to displace existing employment will be ineligible and DSP reserves the right to reclaim the payment in the event that an employer engages in any action that displaces existing employees or conspire to create a situation where employees are made redundant in order to seek financial support under JobsPlus.
This incentive cannot be used to support existing full time employees*. Where an employer wishes to increase the hours of a part-time position thus creating a full time position, an employer will be eligible for the incentive, subject to other conditions of the JobsPlus being met. An existing part-time employee may be supported if they satisfy the eligibility requirements for JobsPlus.
Existing employees includes those employed by an organisation in March 2020 prior to the Covid Pandemic.
Entitlement to the incentive by the employer is wholly based on eligibility for a named employee and ceases immediately on termination of that employment. Where employment ceases, the employer must notify DSP immediately to cancel payment and failure to do so may result in overpayments being raised.
From the 1st of August 2020 the following rates apply:
GRANT €7,500 PAYABLE OVER 2 YEARS:
| Jobseeker aged under 30 | Jobseeker *under 30 years of age and on the live register (includes Credits* only cases) or | In receipt of Covid Pandemic Unemployment Payment or | Combination of both payments | Must have 4 months (104 days) in the previous 6 months |
| Jobseeker aged over 30 & under 50 | Jobseeker over 30 and under 50 years of age and on the live register (includes Credits Only cases) or | In receipt of Covid Pandemic Unemployment Payment or | Combination of both payments | Must have 12 months (312 days) in the previous 18 months |
| Persons with Refugee Status | Persons with refugee status and in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance | No qualifying period applies | ||
| One Parent Family Payment recipient | 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 now in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance transitional payment | No qualifying period applies |
GRANT €10,000 PAYABLE OVER 2 YEARS:
| Jobseeker aged under 50 | Jobseeker under 50 years of age and on the live register (includes Credits only cases) or | In receipt of Covid Pandemic Unemployment Payment or | Combination of both payments | Must have been 36 months (936 days) unemployed in previous 42 months |
| Jobseeker aged over 50 | Jobseeker over 50 years of age and on the live register (includes Credits Only cases) or | In receipt of Covid Pandemic Unemployment Payment or | Combination of both payments | Must have 12 months (312 days) in the previous 18 months |
JobsPlus participants under the age of 25 are co-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF).
Jobseekers not in receipt of jobseekers payment and signing for PRSI jobseeker credits will be also be eligible once they are the required number of days on the live register
Note: Time spent in prison may count towards the qualifying time once entitlement to a qualifying social welfare payment is re-established.
Time spent on a work placement, training or on an education scheme will count towards eligibility.
Please Note: Employment training/apprenticeships are not considered newly created full-time jobs under JobsPlus, therefore the incentive is not open to persons on:
If an employee has taken up employment from one of the work initiatives or approved training courses below, they must have been in receipt of a qualifying payment directly before they commenced participation on the work initiative or training course. Short term illness while participating on a work initiative will not affect entitlement to JobsPlus.
Entitlement must first be established to a qualifying jobseekers payment prior to commencing employment or the employee can verify that their financial/family circumstances have not changed during the period they were participating on one of the initiatives listed above.
Employment must be taken up immediately after signing off the live register or on leaving/completing one of the work initiatives outlined below
Time spent on the following may count towards the qualifying period:
The following are not eligible for JobsPlus
The recruitment of prescribed relatives (parent, grandparent, stepparent, child, grandchild, step-children, siblings or half-siblings) can only be considered eligible for support under the JobsPlus incentive where the employment is deemed insurable under the Social Welfare Acts (Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 refers) and the application is approved by the Department.
Jobseekers that enter employment may be entitled to BTWFD which provides financial support for jobseeker with dependent child on their return to work for a period of two weeks after commencing employment. New employees will be able to access BTWFD without affecting supports available under JobsPlus. Further information on the BTWFD is available in the local Intreo Centres and Social Welfare Branch Offices. They will give guidance on the application process and provide the application form. The application form is available to download from Back to Work Family Dividend
New employees under this initiative may be entitled to receive Working Family Payment (WFP). This is a weekly tax-free payment available to employees with children which gives extra financial support to people on low pay.
People who have been unemployed for a minimum of 12 months and have a medical card may retain their medical card for a period of 3 years if they commence employment.
Rent and Mortgage Interest Supplements (MIS)* are not payable where a jobseeker or spouse is engaged in full-time employment. Full-time employment is defined as working for 30 hours or more per week. Existing Rent Supplement claimants may retain entitlement, subject to a means test whilst engaged in full-time employment, provided that they have been deemed as being eligible for housing support under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS).
Since 1 January 2014, the Mortgage Interest Supplement scheme has been closed to new entrants and no new applications have been accepted since this date. This did not affect people who were getting Mortgage Interest Supplement before 1 January 2014. Customers who were receiving MIS payments continue to receive payments under the Supplementary Welfare Scheme from 1 January 2018.
The status of the employment will be the same as any other employment and liable to PAYE, USC and PRSI.
Both employers and prospective employees can apply on-line to verify eligibility for the incentive. An application will be processed for decision provided all questions are completed to the satisfaction of the Department of Social Protection (DSP). The website is www.gov.ie/jobsplus
The typical application and decision process for employers follows a number of steps;
1. Register on line
Once an employer decides to recruit an additional employee they complete an online application form which gathers key information such as name of company, size of workforce, bank details and economic sector of company and provide permission to DSP to check their tax clearance certificate online. DSP will review, verify the data and check the tax clearance certificate. If in order, the employer will receive a confirmation e-mail.
2. The recruitment phase
Once the employer receives eligibility confirmation from DSP, they may proceed with their recruitment. At this stage an employer could contact their local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office for details of suitably experienced and qualified candidates for their vacancy. An employer may also wish to consider advertising their vacancy on www.jobsireland.ie
3. Verifying candidates eligibility for JobsPlus
When an employer has conducted preliminary interviews and shortlisted candidates, they should then advise these candidates to log on to www.gov.ie/jobsplus to determine their eligibility for the incentive as an employee. We will process this request from the candidate and revert to them with eligibility status. If eligible, a two part JP1 form will issue by post to the candidate:
4. The decision to hire
Once the employer identifies the most suitable candidate for the position, they complete part B of the JP1 form for that candidate, sign the declaration and return it to the DSP.
The JP1 form will be processed by the Department and once all conditions are satisfied, the employer will be notified by e-mail that they have been awarded the incentive.
5. Payment of JobsPlus
Once the candidate is offered a position by the employer they should close their jobseeker claim either on-line at www.mywelfare.ie or attend their nearest Find your local Intreo Centre . Payment of JobsPlus to the employer can only commence once DSP confirms the jobseeker's claim of the employee has closed. Payments will issue monthly in arrears by EFT. Payment will be paid monthly over a 24 month period once eligibility continues.
A jobseeker may verify their eligibility as an employee for the JobsPlus incentive by applying on line at JobsPlus .
The DSP will process this request from the jobseeker and revert with eligibility status, if eligible, a two part JP1 form will be mailed to the jobseeker - Part A of the JP1 form will confirm eligibility and rate of payment to a prospective employer should a jobseeker be employed and should be signed by the jobseeker, Part B to be completed by employer should they chose to employ the jobseeker. Where the jobseeker has been interviewed by an employer and asked to determine their eligibility for JobsPlus incentive, the jobseeker should bring the two part JP1 form confirming eligibility to the employer for consideration.
It is a matter for the employer to offer the position to the person they deem to be most suitable for their vacancy.
The employee must take up employment immediately after signing off the live register or on completing one of the work activation initiatives outlined in section 3.2 in order to satisfy the conditions of JobsPlus incentive.
The incentive will only be awarded from a date determined by DSP once confirmation of the closure of the employee's jobseekers claim is received. No backdating of the incentive will apply.
If the application is refused, or the grant payment is discontinued, the employer may request a review of the decision.
The DSP has put in place a process whereby decisions can be reviewed by officers not involved in the original decision. An applicant (corporate or person) and/or jobseeker who is not satisfied with a decision made under the JobsPlus incentive may submit a written request for a review of the decision made. They should clearly outline the reason why a decision may be incorrect or that proper procedures were not applied.
The JobsPlus incentive is a non-statutory scheme and decisions made by DSP and cannot be appealed to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
Eligibility as an employee for JobsPlus is valid at the time it is verified by DSP. Eligibility will be re-confirmed on recruitment. Eligibility can change if there is a change in the jobseekers circumstances. Where circumstances change, a jobseeker can contact the JobsPlus unit directly on 071-9672698 and request an up to date verification at JobsPlus .
The incentive will be payable monthly in arrears over a two year period (24 monthly payments) from an approval date determined by the Department of Social Protection (DSP).
Payment will be made monthly in arrears by Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) – no other method of payment is available. The qualifying employer must specify the receiving bank account at the time of application. A monthly remittance slip will issue to employers outlining the employees to which the incentive refers.
1. Data Protection
The DSP will treat all information and personal data obtained as confidential. As part of our monitoring and reporting obligations, we will use data provided for the operation of JobsPlus carefully. We will only disclose information on employers and employees to other people or bodies in accordance with the law.
2. Freedom of Information Act (FOI)
The DEASP undertakes to use its best endeavours to hold confidential any information provided by companies (correspondence/forms/tenders, etc.), subject to the DSP’s obligations under law, including the Freedom of Information Act, 2014. Should a company wish that any of the information it supplied not be disclosed because of its sensitivity, the company should, when providing the information, identify the same and specify the reasons for its sensitivity. The DSP will consult with the company’s representative about this sensitive information before making a decision on any FOI request received. Please note, however, that if no information is identified as sensitive, with supporting reasons, then it can potentially be released in response to a FOI request.
3. Rights of Access
The payment of the incentive is wholly dependent on the continuing employment of the eligible employee and each approved incentive is uniquely associated to a particular employee.
An employer shall grant officials of DSP access to records, financial or otherwise, pertaining to the JobsPlus Scheme. At the request of DSP, the employer will provide rights of access and inspection to DSP, its officers and agents and the Comptroller and Auditor General to all activities, records, persons and information which DSP may reasonably require to verify compliance by the Company with the terms and conditions agreed in relation to the Scheme.
All records, both manual and electronic, relating to either applications or funding provided under the JobsPlus Scheme must be retained for as long as the JobsPlus scheme is in payment and for six years after, and must be available for inspection.
Payment of JobsPlus may be suspended or stopped if the employer does not agree to any reasonable request from an officer or agent of the DSP to access any records they hold pertaining to the JobsPlus scheme.
Income received by the employer from this initiative will not be considered as revenue/income for Employer income or corporation tax purposes.
The DSP can recoup all JobsPlus support paid in error or in excess and is not restricted by the circumstances giving rise to such excess in seeking recoupment.
The grant is specific to the approved employer and employee and cannot be used to offset the cost of other employees in the same or related businesses/employment.
Further information and advice on all aspects of the JobsPlus incentive is available by accessing JobsPlus , sending an email to jobsplusinfo@welfare.ie or by calling +353 (071) 9672698/9672629/9672509 or LoCall: 0818 927999 or by visiting any of the DSP's offices. (Note: The rates charged for using 0818 (LoCall) numbers may vary among different service providers).
JobsPlus incentive is managed and administered by:
EURES is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union. Visit eufunds.ie for more information.
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