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 a period.
The incentive is provided in the form of a monthly payment to employers by electronic fund transfer from the Department of Social Protection (DSP). The grant rates applicable and eligibility criteria are set out in section 3.1 below.
The ESF+ is the EU’s instrument for investing in people. It is a co-financed programme, where EU funding must be matched by a set percentage of national funding. The European Social Fund provides €10 billion annually across the European Union where it aims to improve employment and education opportunities, to enhance social inclusion and to tackle poverty.
The European Commission is providing co-funding to JobsPlus for participants under 30 years.
As part of the requirements to obtain this funding, participants under 30 should be made aware of this funding. All JobsPlus related documentation and websites should have the Government of Ireland ESF+ logo and European Structural logo along with a statement that those under 30s are co-funded.
“The JobPlus scheme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.”
The JobsPlus incentive is in operation since early July 2013 and has been available for all eligible full time recruitment on or after 1 July 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, over a minimum of four days to eligible recruits (i.e. that an employee must be on the 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 because of natural turnover for example 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 the DSP to support the application.
Recipients in education/training or apprenticeship schemes are not eligible for JobsPlus (refer to section 3.4).
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 not be entitled 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 the DSP.
After receiving JobsPlus support they must also declare this to a State body. Examples of State bodies listed below:
JobsPlus is not payable for any employment positions also included under other State funded wage supports. This is to prevent double funding.
An employer considered a public service body within the meaning of a ‘public service body’ is not eligible for the incentive, unless proof is provided that the position is not being funded by the Government. A person or body funded by the Oireachtas including (employers providing services on behalf of the DSP) the Central Fund or where 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 (DFHERIS). .
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 2000 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 a job vacancy is available and complies with the JobsPlus 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 offered must be a full-time position of at least 30 hours per week. The employee must work a minimum of four days in any one week (4 in 7).
Part-time employment and jobs which are short-term and/or seasonal are not eligible under the JobsPlus incentive.
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, this is subject to all other conditions of the JobsPlus being met. An existing part-time employee may be supported as outlined above if they satisfy the eligibility requirements for JobsPlus.
Existing employees includes those employed by an organisation in March 2020 prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Employment that is considered 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 intentionally creates a situation where employees are made redundant in order to gain financial support under the JobsPlus scheme.
employer is only entitled to the incentive based on the eligibility of the named employee. Continued entitlement stops immediately on termination of that employment.
• Where employment ceases, the employer must notify DSP immediately (refer to 6.4 for contact details) to cancel payment where failure to do so may result in overpayments being raised.
The recruitment of prescribed relatives (parent, grandparent, step-parent, child, grandchild, step-children, siblings or half-siblings) can only be considered eligible for support under the JobsPlus incentive where the employment is insurable under the Social Welfare Acts (Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (running consolidation - Jan 2020) refers) and the application is approved by the Department.
From the 1 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-19 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-19 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 - Jobseekers Transition (JST) recipient only | 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 |
*JobsPlus participants under the age of 30 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
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-19 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-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment* or | Combination of both payments | Must have 12 months (312 days) in the previous 18 months |
Time spent on PUP will count towards the JobsPlus qualification period, where the applicant closes their PUP claim and establishes an entitlement to a qualifying payment.
Only at the point of awarding employment does the applicant need to close their PUP payment.
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. (Short term illness while participating on a work initiative will not affect entitlement to JobsPlus).
Employment must be taken up immediately after signing off the live register or on leaving/completing one of the work initiatives outlined in the table below
Summary table of qualifying payments and time spent on other schemes:
| A. Qualifying Payments: (refer to 3.1 above) |
| Jobseekers Allowance (JA) |
| Jobseekers Benefit (JB) |
| Jobseekers Credits only (JBCO) |
| Jobseekers Self-Employed (JBSE) |
| Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) (refer to 3.2 above) |
| Part Time Job Incentive (PTJI) |
| Persons with Refugee status |
| One Parent Family Payment (Jobseekers Transition payment only) |
| B. Other qualifying payments where you must have been in receipt of a qualifying payment before and after the activity: |
| Back to Education Allowance |
| Back to Work Enterprise Allowance |
| Maternity Benefit |
| Short Term Enterprise Allowance |
| C. Jobseekers can go straight into a JobsPlus supported employment if they took part in any of the activities below and were in receipt of a qualifying payment prior to that activity: |
| Community Employment (CE) |
| Rural Social Scheme (RSS) |
| Solas/ETB -short duration courses |
| Springboard+ Courses |
| Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
| VTOS |
| Youthreach - Note: administered by ETBs (establishes an entitlement to a qualifying social welfare payment prior to/after participation on the Youthreach course - RSU circular 39/16 refers) 3 months period waived. |
| Work Placement Employment Programme (WPEP) - Note: (formerly Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS). YESS programme now closed, however, time spent on this programme still counts towards the JobsPlus qualifying time) |
Recipients of the following are not eligible for JobsPlus:
- Apprenticeships
- Educational or Training Schemes
- Work experience
New employees under the JobsPlus initiative may be entitled to receive Working Family Payment (WFP) formerly Family Income Supplement (FIS). This is a weekly tax-free payment available to employees with children which gives extra financial support to people on low pay.
Jobseekers that enter employment may be entitled to BTWFD which provides financial support for jobseekers with a dependent child on their return to work for a period of two years 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 your local Intreo Centre and Social Welfare Branch Offices. They will give guidance on the application process and provide the application form.
People who have a medical card and have been unemployed for a minimum of 12 months 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, if they have been considered eligible for housing support under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS).
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 online to verify eligibility for the incentive. Where all questions are completed and approved by the DSP, an application will be processed for decision. The online application can be located on the website at www.gov.ie/jobsplus.
The application and decision process for employers is outlined below;
Once an employer decides to recruit an employee, they must:
At recruitment stage an employer could contact their local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office to discuss their vacancy so that a suitable jobseeker could be put forward to fill the position.
An employer may also wish to consider advertising their vacancy on www.jobsireland.ie. This is a free service.
When an employer has conducted preliminary interviews and shortlisted candidates, they should advise the jobseekers to apply for JobsPlus on to www.jobsplus.ie to determine their eligibility for the incentive.
DSP will process this request from the jobseeker followed by a letter of approval/non-approval. If eligible, a two-part JP1 form will issue by post to the jobseeker:
Once the employer identifies the most suitable jobseeker for the position, they complete Part B of the JP1 form for that jobseeker, sign the declaration and return it to the DSP.
The JP1 form will be processed by the department and if all conditions are satisfied, the employer will be notified by e-mail that they have been awarded the incentive.
Note: It is only at the point of awarding employment that the applicant needs to close their qualifying payment (includes PUP).
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 advise whether they are suitable. If eligible, a two-part JP1 form will be mailed to the jobseeker:
It is a matter for the employer to offer the position to the person they consider to be most suitable for their vacancy.
The employee must take up employment immediately after signing off the live register (or PUP) or on completing one of the work activation initiatives outlined in section 3.2 in order to satisfy the conditions of JobsPlus incentive.
The completed JP1 form must be returned to the JobsPlus unit in Carrick on Shannon in order to create the employment and set up the monthly payments.
JobsPlus Unit
Shannon Lodge
Carrick on Shannon
Co Leitrim
N41 KD81
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 and is re-confirmed on recruitment. Eligibility may be reviewed if there is a change in the jobseeker’s circumstances. Where circumstances change, a jobseeker can contact the JobsPlus unit on (071) 9672616 and request an up to date verification at www.jobsplus.ie.
The incentive will issue monthly in arrears by Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) – no other method of payment is available.
Payment is over a two-year period (24 monthly payments) from an approval date determined by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) so long as eligibility continues.
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, 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.
JobsPlus incentive is managed and administered by the Employment Programmes and Incentives Division (EPID).
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:
Note: The European Commission is providing co-funding to this scheme for participants under 30 years. The scheme is being backed jointly by the European Social Fund (ESF+) and the Government of Ireland.
EURES is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union. Visit eufunds.ie for more information.
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