Service
JobsPlus
From Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Published at
Last updated
From Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Published at
Last updated
JobsPlus is an employer incentive which encourages and rewards employers who employ jobseekers on the Live Register. Employers are paid an incentive monthly in arrears over a 2-year period. It provides 2 levels of regular cash payments, €7,500 and €10,000 respectively.
Eligible employers who recruit full-time employees on or after 1 July 2013 may apply for the incentive.
The European Commission provides co-funding to JobsPlus for participants under 25 years. JobsPlus is jointly backed by the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI), the European Social Fund (ESF) and Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection on an equal funding basis.
Employers
If an employer decides to recruit an additional employee, they can complete the JobsPlus Online Application for Employers giving, for example, the name of company, size of workforce, bank details and economic sector of company. Once this is submitted an officer of the department will review and check the tax clearance certificate is in order and email the employer if it is approved.
Once eligibility is confirmed by the department, an employer may start to recruit, either by contacting their local Intreo Centre or Employment Services Office for details of suitably experienced and qualified candidates for their vacancy. They could also register the vacancy with Jobs Ireland.
Candidate employees
Once preliminary interviews have been conducted and candidates have been shortlisted employers should then ask these candidates log on and complete Jobplus Online Application for Employees to check their eligibility for JobsPlus.
The department will process their request and if found eligible, post a two-part JP1 form to the candidate. Part A of the JP1 form will confirm the employee's eligibility and rate of payment for a prospective employer, Part B is to be completed by the employer if they choose to employ the candidate.
The candidate should bring the two-part JP1 form confirming eligibility to the employer for consideration.
When an employer identifies the most suitable candidate for the position, they should complete part B of the JP1 form for that candidate, sign the declaration and return to the department. The JP1 form will be processed by us and once all conditions are satisfied, employers will be notified by e-mail that they have been awarded the incentive with regard to the employee specified on the JP1 form.
Once the candidate is offered a position they should contact the department to close their jobseekers 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 we confirm that the new employee's jobseeker claim has closed.
Payment will be made monthly in arrears by electronic fund transfer over a 24-month period. It will not be considered taxable for income or corporation tax purposes for the employer. The eligible JobsPlus employee must be on payroll and subject to PAYE and PRSI (Class A).
If approved, the employer will receive the following payments over a 2-year period for each eligible person they recruit and retain in employment:
There are two levels of payment available depending on the circumstances of the applicant.
| Under 25 years of age, on the live register and unemployed for at least 104 days in the previous 6 months | €7,500 |
| Over 25 years of age, on the live register and unemployed for at least 312 days in the previous 18 months | €7,500 |
| In receipt of jobseekers allowance transition payment (no qualifying period applies) | €7,500 |
| Persons with refugee status and are in receipt of jobseekers allowance (no qualifying period) | €7,500 |
| Persons less than 50 years of age, on the live register and unemployed for at least 936 days in the previous 40 months | €10,000 |
| Over 50 years of age, on the live register and unemployed for at least 312 days in the previous 18 months | €10,000 |
For employments which commenced prior to 1st January 2018 the following payment levels apply:
| Under 25 years of age, on the live register and unemployed for at least 104 days in the previous 6 months | €7,500 |
| Over 25 years of age, on the live register and unemployed for at least 312 days in the previous 18 months | €7,500 |
| In receipt of jobseekers allowance transition payment (no qualifying periods applies) | €7,500 |
| Persons with refugee status and in receipt of jobseekers allowance (no qualifying period) | €7,500 |
| Over 18 years of age on the live register and unemployed for at least 624 days in the previous 30 months | €10,000 |
Employers should register online here
Jobseekers should register online here
You can get further information about JobsPlus by logging on to www.jobsplus.ie, emailing Jobsplusinfo@welfare.ie or calling (071) 9672535 / 9672583. Information is also available from your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office.
JobsPlus is administered by:
Operational guidelines describe the processes and procedures that staff in the department follow when carrying out their work.
The European Commission is providing co-funding to the JobsPlus scheme for participants under 25 years. The scheme is being jointly backed by the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI), the European Social Fund (ESF) and Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection on an equal funding basis.
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