Self Employment (SE) Program
no fixed amount
Grant
Description:
The Self Employment (SE) program provides entrepreneurial support and financial assistance to Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA) eligible, unemployed Nova Scotia participants starting their own business. The maximum duration of an agreement with a participant is 40 weeks.
Comments on Funding:
The applicant currently receiving Employment Insurance, may continue to receive his regular Employment Insurance benefits until the end of the benefit period, after which he may be eligible to receive a living allowance to the end of his Self-Employment agreement.
If the applicant is not in receipt of Employment Insurance benefits, he may be eligible to receive financial assistance for living expenses. Temporary financial assistance may be provided in exceptional circumstances to cover all or part of the following costs related to participation (e.g., dependent care, disability needs, tuition costs, transportation and accommodation).
Continuous Intake
Eligibility:
The applicant must:
1. be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident who is currently a resident of Nova Scotia,
2. be unemployed or considered employed less than 20 hours per week (on average over the past year),
3. have a current Employment Insurance (EI) claim,
4. have had an EI claim that ended within the last 60 months,
5. have been employed with gross insurable earnings of $2000 or higher annually, in at least 5 of the last 10 years,
6. be starting their own business,
7. have had received benefits under the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB),
8. work in conjunction with a Self Employment Service Provider who must approve his Business Concept as well as his Business Plan,
9. contribute $3,300, or 100% of the investment required to launch and operate the business if less than $3,300.
Application Steps:
The applicant must:
1. visit a Nova Scotia Works Centre in his local area who will advise him on his options and help him with the Self-Employment application process.
2. receive an employment assessment and develop a Return to Work Action Plan with a case manager. The case manager’s decision is required before Employment Nova Scotia can assess your application.
3. submit the application.
Documentation Needed:
The applicant must provide proof to Employment Nova Scotia of the required client contribution amount (a bank statement, loan evidence, statement of ownership, etc.)
Other Things to Note:
Individuals who have received a payment under the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) are now eligible to apply for employment programs that are delivered by Employment Nova Scotia.
About the author
Maurice
