Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme for the Self-Employed
The Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme for the Self-Employed (PTSE) is a new scheme for self-employed people. It provides income support to self-employed people who will lose their Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) if they earn over €960 over 8 weeks. It also provides support to self-employed people on a jobseekers payment who lose their employment due to COVID-19.
PTSE is paid instead of your PUP or jobseeker’s payment. It is paid at a lower rate, but there is no limit on the amount you can earn.
You cannot work more than 24 hours per week with the PTSE.
Who can get the Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme for the Self-Employed (PTSE)?
The Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme for the Self-Employed (PTSE) is a new scheme for self-employed people. It provides income support to self-employed people who will lose their Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) if they earn over €960 over 8 weeks. It also provides support to self-employed people on a jobseekers payment who lose their employment due to COVID-19.
PTSE is paid instead of your PUP or jobseeker’s payment. It is paid at a lower rate, but there is no limit on the amount you can earn.
You cannot work more than 24 hours per week with the PTSE.
Who can get the Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme for the Self-Employed (PTSE)?
The PTSE is for self-employed people who work less than 24 hours per week. You can apply for it if:
- You are getting PUP and earn more than €960 over 8 weeks from self-employment
- You are getting Jobseeker’s Benefit, Jobseeker’s Benefit (Self-Employed) or Jobseeker’s Allowance because of COVID-19 and want to return to self-employment or increase your income from self-employment
To get the PTSE, you must:
- Be aged between 18 and 66
- Be self-employed
- Be getting a PUP or a jobseekers’ payment the week before you apply for PTSE
- Be genuinely seeking to increase your hours of self-employment
- Be tax and PRSI compliant
- Be resident in Ireland
You can work up to a maximum of 24 hours per week. If you work over this limit, you will not be entitled to the PTSE.
You must submit a monthly form giving the number of hours you have worked each week in a 4 week period.
If you transfer to the PTSE, there is no limit on the amount you can earn. If your income falls below €960 in an 8 week period, you can close your claim for PTSE and apply for Jobseeker’s Allowance. If your income increases at a later stage you can re-apply for PTSE – if you still meet the conditions for the Scheme.
If you were previously on PUP and moved to PTSE, you cannot re-apply for PUP. New PUP applications closed from 8 July 2021. You must apply for Jobseeker’s Allowance if you close your PTSE.
Duration of the PTSE
The PTSE will run for as long as the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme is in operation.
Appeals
The PTSE is a non-statutory scheme, there is no right of appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. If you are not happy with a decision on your application, you can request the Department of Social Protection to review their decision.
Rate of PTSE
PTSE is paid instead of your PUP or jobseeker’s payment.
It is paid at a flat rate each week. A higher flat rate is paid, if you are getting an increase for an adult dependant with your jobseeker’s payment.
There is no increase for a child dependant with the PTSE.
| Current payment | PTSE weekly rate |
| PUP or a jobseeker’s payment for a single person | €128.60 |
| Jobseeker’s payment with an increase for an adult dependant | €209.70 |
The PTSE rate is not affected by your income from self-employment.
e PTSE rate is not affected by your income from self-employment.
How to apply for the PTSE
You can download a copy of the PTSE1 application form or e-mail the DSP at forms@welfare.ie for a copy of the form.
Completed forms should be e-mailed or posted to your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office.