There are over 80 different government supports available to small businesses but many of them are not well known or understood. Each week in the SFA e-zine, we will profile a different support that could improve your business, giving you information and advice.

JobsPlus

What?            

Regular cash payments to employers to offset the cost of employing someone who has been on the Live Register for at least 12 months. If the employee is under 25, they only have to be on the Live Register for four months to be eligible.

The amount provided is €10,000 over two years for each person who was unemployed for more than 24 months or €7,500 over two years per person who was unemployed for between 12 and 24 months. The employment must be full time (over 30 hours per week, over at least four days) and must relate to a new vacancy, rather than displacing current employees.

The incentive is paid monthly in arrears and is not considered as revenue/income for income or corporation tax purposes.

Why?             

The scheme is designed to encourage employers to focus their recruitment efforts on those who have been out of work for long periods.

How?             

JobsPlus is run by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. The first step is to complete an online application form on www.jobsplus.ie in order to be deemed an eligible employer.

You have the option of contacting your local Intreo centre for details of suitable candidates and of advertising your vacancy on www.jobsireland.ie 

When you have conducted preliminary interviews and shortlisted candidates, you should advise the candidates to visit www.jobsplus.ie to find out if they are eligible for the scheme. They will receive a form by post confirming their eligibility and rate of payment for the prospective employer – the form will also include a section to be completed by you if you choose to employ them.

Once you offer the position to the candidate, they should close their jobseekers claim on www.welfare.ie or by going to their local Intreo/Social Welfare office. 

More information about JobsPlus is available here.

Tips               

If you are interested in applying, don’t forget:

• The scheme is open to all employers in the private, community, not-for-profit and voluntary sectors. It is also open to self-employed people who are looking to recruit
• If a candidate is under 25, they only have to be on the live register for four months to qualify
• Time spent on JobBridge and other activation schemes counts towards eligibility
• An employer can receive a JobsPlus contribution for multiple employees – the amounts mentioned above are per qualifying employee
• The incentive cannot be used to support existing employees or to offer additional working hours to employees that are on short-time or reduced hours
• Part-time employment and jobs which are short-term or seasonal are not eligible for the incentive
• The incentive cannot be backdated but if you have an employee who would have been eligible at the time of recruitment, you can apply now and receive the incentive going forward
• Employers must notify the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection immediately if the employee leaves or is let go and the JobsPlus payments will stop.