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 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 the Department of 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:
From the 1 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-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 Jobseekers 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-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment or | Combination of both payments | Must have 36 months (936 days) unemployed in the 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 |
Note: Time spent in prison may count towards the qualifying time once entitlement to a qualifying social welfare payment is re-established.
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
Employers should register online here.
Jobseekers should register online here.
Further information available from your local Intreo Centre or at the contact details below.
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 Social Protection on an equal funding basis.
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