The Short-Term Enterprise Allowance (STEA) helps people who have lost their jobs to start new businesses in Ireland. It is a government support, provided by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

You can receive the STEA instead of your Jobseeker’s Benefit (JB) or Jobseeker’s Benefit Self-Employed (JBSE) for up to 9 months.

This social welfare scheme for starting your business allows you to continue to receive welfare payments while you set up your business as a Sole Trader or a Limited Company.

If you need any help setting up or running your business in Ireland, our professional team is happy to help at any stage.

To qualify for the Short-Term Enterprise Allowance, you must meet the following criteria:

You must be getting or be entitled to get Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Benefit Self-Employed (JBSE)
You must be setting up a new business in Ireland. You cannot avail of the STEA for pre-established businesses and your business should operate in Ireland. You will need to inform your case worker of any business trips outside of Ireland in advance
You must prepare a business proposal and have it approved by a Case Officer from an Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office or an Enterprise Officer in your Local Development Company

Once your application is accepted you will need to register as self-employed with Revenue. Later, if you take up employment you must notify the Department of Social Protection immediately as this may affect your entitlement to the allowance.

If you have received an employment grant from a Local Enterprise Office (LEO) or a local development company you may still be entitled to the STEA.

Certain businesses are not eligible for the Short Term Enterprise Allowance:

Businesses that were set up before the application for STEA. The allowance is for new businesses only
Franchises
Businesses that you have taken over, inherited, or leased

If you have received the STEA for one business and then cease trading, you cannot make another claim for the allowance until 5 years have passed.

Also, if you are self-employed on a temporary, part-time or seasonal basis, you will usually not qualify for the Short-Term Enterprise Allowance.

The Short-Term Enterprise Allowance will be paid at the same rate as your Jobseeker’s Benefit.

The income that you earn from your new business will not affect how much you are entitled to from the STEA.

This means you can earn an income from your new business and still get the Short-Term Enterprise Allowance.

You can receive the Short-Term Enterprise Allowance for as long as you are eligible for Jobseeker’s Benefit.

Generally, a person is entitled to Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Benefit Self-Employed for a period of 6 or 9 months so the maximum amount of time you can receive the STEA is 9 months.

How to apply for the Short Term Enterprise Allowance

We’ve laid out how you can apply for the STEA in a few simple steps.

01.

Download and complete Form STEA1

The form will ask for a business proposal which gives an overview of what your business will do and how much it will cost to set up.
Although you don’t need a detailed business plan at this stage it can help you explain your business and show that you are serious about starting a successful business.

02.

Include any business courses you have attended in the past

For example, the Start Your Own Business course, run by your Local Enterprise Office.
Taking part in these kind of courses can help prove your dedication to starting your own business and you can avail of many of them for free. You should contact your Local Enterprise Office for more details.

03.

Return the form to the Jobs Case Officer

Your Case Officer (located in your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office) will look at your business proposal and discuss it with you.
They may also appoint you an Enterprise Officer from your Local Development Company to help you with your application.

If your application is accepted, you should register as self-employed with Revenue. Since the STEA is a non-statutory scheme you can’t appeal the decision if your application is approved although you can ask the Department of Social Protection to review your application if you feel you have been unfairly refused. You should request a review in writing within 21 days of your rejection.

You do not need to pay Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) or Universal Social Charge (USC) on the STEA. However, you will need to pay Income tax on the allowance in the same way you would for your Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Benefit Self Employed. If you need help with your tax obligations talk to a member of our team who will be happy to advise you.

1) Benefits

You may be getting extra benefits alongside your Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Benefit Self Employed, such as a medical card or Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. You should be entitled to keep these benefits as long you keep satisfying the conditions set out for them.

2) The Enterprise Support Grant

The Enterprise Support Grant (ESG) can help cover the financial costs of setting up your business. It is designed to support businesses set up using the Short-Term Enterprise Allowance or the Back To Work Allowance (BTWA).

You can only get the ESG if you are approved for the Short-term Enterprise Allowance or the Back To Work Enterprise Allowance. People who qualify for the 9-month STEA can qualify for up to €1000, while people on the 6-month STEA can qualify for up to €625.

There are limits on the amount of your ESG you can spend on specific expenses and some costs that can’t be covered by the ESG. For example, you can spend up to €250 of the grant on company formation service costs.

If you are unemployed and considering setting up your own business as an option, you could qualify for the Short Term Enterprise Allowance.

You can also check out our full list of Startup Business Grants And Government Startup Support to see what other supports you might be entitled to.

What Is The Short Term Enterprise Allowance (STEA)?