Tús

The Tús initiative is a community work placement scheme providing short-term working opportunities for unemployed people. The work opportunities are to benefit the community and are provided by community and voluntary organisations in both urban and rural areas.

The Tús initiative is managed by local Implementing Bodies for the Department of Social Protection (DSP), which has overall responsibility for the scheme.

Work placements are for a maximum of 52 weeks. Tús participants work 19.5 hours per week.

Type of project

All the work carried out by participants in the Tús scheme will be community-based.

The types of projects eligible for the scheme can include:

• Environmental services (for example, conservation and maintenance of national walkways)
• Caring services (for example, childcare, care of older people)
• General community services (for example, newsletters or information provision for communities)
• Heritage and cultural services (for example, local heritage projects)
• Educational services (for example, community playgroups)

Budget 2025

It was announced in Budget 2025 that people on Tús will get an increase of €12 per week from January 2025.

To qualify for Tús, you must meet the following conditions:

• Have been continuously unemployed for at least 12 months and ‘signing on’ on a full-time basis and
• Have been getting a jobseeker's payment (Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowance) or Beneficiary of Temporary Protection (BOTP) weekly payment from the DSP for at least 12 months (a break or breaks of a maximum of up to 30 days may be allowed) and
• Be currently getting Jobseeker's Allowance or BOTP weekly payment. (If you are getting a BOTP payment the qualifying period may be a mixture of your BOTP payment and your previous Tús qualifying payment).

For Jobseeker’s Allowance participants, time spent on the Carer's Allowance (CA) or JobPath can count towards the 12 months qualifying period.

You can also qualify for Tús without waiting at least 12 months, if you are one of the following:

• 18 years of age or over, fully unemployed and getting Disability Allowance (no qualifying period applies, applications by self-referral only)
• 18 or over, with refugee status and getting Jobseekers Allowance payment (no qualifying period applies)
• Getting a Jobseekers Transitional Payment (JST) and who are fully unemployed (no qualifying period applies. You must be getting a One-Parent Family Payment immediately before transferring to JST
• From November 2024, the DSP is running a pilot project aimed at people aged 18 who are fully unemployed, getting Jobseekers Allowance, and have a low likelihood of finding employment (no qualifying period applies).

Selection process

Most unemployed people who are eligible for the scheme will be identified and contacted by their Intreo Centre or local Social Welfare Branch Office and offered a place in the scheme.

Potential participants can also sign themselves up to the scheme. Self-referrals should be made to your Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office.

If you agree to participate in the Tús scheme you will be referred to your local Implementing Body where you will be recruited for a suitable placement when it becomes available.

As there are only limited places available on the scheme, not all eligible unemployed people will be contacted.

Other work

You can take up other part-time work and continue on Tús, once it does not interfere with the work of the Tús work placement. If you are offered full-time work you can end your Tús work placement contract.

Refusal of work placement

Under the National Employment Action Plan, if you are getting Jobseeker’s Allowance and are offered a Tús work placement, you must accept it.

If you refuse a work opportunity without good reason, you can have your social welfare payment reduced or terminated.

If your payment is reduced or terminated for this reason you can appeal this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office within 21 days. You may be able to make your appeal online with MyWelfare, if you have a verified MyGovID account.

Learn more about how to appeal a social welfare decision

Participants work 19.5 hours a week and the placement lasts 12 months. You receive the same statutory annual leave and public holiday entitlement as other employees.

During the 12-month placement, you can have up to 2 days’ uncertified sick leave and 7 days’ certified sick leave. When the placement finishes, you should sign on again with your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office. You cannot participate in the Tús scheme again for 3 years.

Childcare: If you need childcare to participate in the Tús scheme, you may be eligible for the National Childcare Scheme.

Rates

Since January 2024 the minimum weekly payment for participants (based on 19.5 hours worked) is €259.50.

If your Jobseeker’s Allowance payment (including increases for dependants) was €232 a week or less, then you will get the minimum Tús weekly rate of €259.50 (that is €232 plus €27.50).

If your weekly Jobseeker’s Allowance (including any increases for dependants) was €232.01 or more, then you will get the equivalent rate plus €27.50 (there are some exceptions to this).

If you were getting the BOTP weekly payment, you will get €259.50 weekly on Tús. You will not be eligible for increases for fuel, qualified adults or dependent children. Any qualified adult or dependent children may continue to claim the BOTP weekly payment, if they are eligible. You will also not get an additional contribution towards the cost of your meals in the Designated Accommodation Centre.

Participants will keep any extra benefits and the medical card, provided they are still eligible.

Additional income

If you have any additional income, for example, from part-time work, it will not affect your Tús payment. However, the rules that apply to Jobseeker’s Allowance about reporting a change in your circumstances also apply to the Tús payment.

You should tell your Implementing Body and your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office if there is any change in your circumstances. If you don’t you may be overpaid.

If your circumstances change, for example, you get married, have a child or change your working hours, you must let your Tús supervisor know, as it may affect your payment.

You also need to let your supervisor know if your dependant gets a job, as their income will be assessed as means and your Tús payment may be reduced. Your payment cannot be reduced below the minimum rate of €259.50. You should complete an EP1 form and give it to your supervisor.

Spouses or partners and Tús

If you get a place on a Tús scheme and your spouse or partner is claiming Jobseeker's Allowance, Disability Allowance (DA) or Farm Assist in their own right, they can claim an Increase for a Qualified Adult with their JA, DA or Farm Assist. Your income from the Tús scheme (as a single person) is then assessed as insurable employment against their payment.

If you are on a Tús scheme and your spouse or partner gets a place on a Tús scheme, you will each get a single rate of the Tús payment together with half of the Increases for a Qualified Child for any dependent children.

Tax and PRSI

The Tús payment is taxable but the amount payable depends on individual circumstances.

Class A PRSI contributions will be paid for all participants. Those earning more than €352 a week will pay a PRSI contribution.

Participants in the Tús scheme are exempt from the Universal Social Charge.

The work placements are proposed and provided by community and voluntary organisations. The organisations must provide good quality work opportunities that are of benefit to the community.

Organisations with a proposed work placement should register with the Implementing Body in their area. They will be asked to submit a proposal detailing the work and the number of participants requested. The Implementing Body will assess and make a decision on the proposal.

The allocation of places is based on the number of eligible unemployed people in each area.

Costs

Organisations with a proposed work placement should register with the Implementing Body in their area. They will be asked to submit a proposal detailing the work and the number of participants requested. The Implementing Body will assess and make a decision on the proposal.

Potential participants will be selected and contacted by their Intreo Centre or local Social Welfare Branch Office.

Self-referrals should be made to your Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office.

Community and voluntary organisations interested in providing Tús work placement opportunities should register with their local Implementing Body .

You can find more detailed information about Tús in the Department of Social Protection’s Operational Guidelines.