Tapering of Benefits - Employed Person (DSS)

Overview

Social Assistance beneficiaries who find employment, can opt for the Tapering of Benefits scheme if they earn at least the National Minimum Wage or more and if they have been in receipt of Social Assistance or Unemployment Assistance or Special Unemployment Benefit for at least (one )

1 year in the last three (3) years.

What you'll get

The awarded Tapering of Benefits rate is a percentage of the last Social Benefit rate awarded excluding bonuses:

 

  • 75% of the benefit rate for the first year.

  • 55% of the benefit rate for the second year.

  • 35% of the benefit rate for the third year.

  • 25% of the benefit rate is paid to the employer for a maximum period of three (3) years, during which the beneficiary remains in employment with that employer.

 

Beneficiaries are paid in arrears every four (4) weeks, while employers are paid in arrears every twelve (12) weeks.

 

If the beneficiary in receipt of Tapering of Benefits becomes unemployed, the benefit is stopped for both the beneficiary and the employer. If the beneficiary becomes employed again, the Tapering of Benefits resumes from the year that the benefit was stopped. In such case, the beneficiary is to submit a fresh application together with the declaration from the new employer, who would then start to receive the 25% of the benefit rate for the remaining time of the tapering of the benefit.

 

Once the three-year (3) period of being in receipt of the Tapering of Benefits scheme has elapsed, the beneficiary may start to be eligible for the In-Work benefit, if continuing to be in employment.

 

Any statutory bonuses are to be paid by the current employer receiving the Tapering of Benefits. The beneficiary on the Tapering of Benefits scheme cannot request the difference in statutory bonuses to the Department of Social Security, if the beneficiary is employed as a part-timer or on reduced hours.

 

You may make use of an online Calculator to calculate your potential entitlement of the Tapering of Benefits.

Eligibility

General eligibility criteria:

 

An applicant who is now engaged in full-time employment and earning not less than the National Minimum Wage and should have been in receipt of a non-contributory benefit for a period of one (1) year in the last three (3) years.

 

Documentation required

 

  • Applicant and Employer’s Declaration – Click here to download this document.

How to apply

Fill in and submit the application online.

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