We can help—by supporting you during the start-up period. Assistance can include technical advice, financial support, and coaching—like accounting and marketing. You can also develop a business plan with the help of a Self Employment Benefits Coordinator.

Receiving Employment Insurance benefits? You will continue to receive these benefits until your claim ends, after which you will receive financial support at a rate provincially determined for a duration of the time you are on SEB.

So, if you’re looking for a job, start searching inside your mind… for a great business idea. You could be eligible for Self Employment Benefits!

Eligibility
A participant must:

• be a resident of New Brunswick or a First Nation Community in New Brunswick
• be unemployed and eligible to work in Canada
• have an active Employment Insurance Benefits claim or a claim that has ended within the last three years, or have received maternity or parental benefits within the last five years
• have acceptable credit references
• have an idea for a successful business as demonstrated by a business plan
• attend an orientation session
• work full time (at least 35 hours per week) at the business

• be enrolled as a full-time student
• be currently operating a similar business, or be closely associated to a similar business
• have received previous funding under this program or the Entrepreneurship Program during the last five years

• begin operations within ten weeks of signing a Self Employment Benefits contract
• operate for at least ten months of the year
• provide the participant with a large degree of operational control

• create undue competition for an existing venture
• be unsuitable for public funding
• be a franchisee with a franchise fee of over $50,000 start prior to the approval of the program application

Guidelines
A Self Employment Benefits duration may be provided for a maximum of 45 weeks
Self Employment Benefits are available to an eligible participant as follows:

• Employment Insurance (EI) Benefits recipient:
• where a participant’s EI Benefits period is currently greater than or equal to 45 weeks—the participant will receive the EI Benefits for the 45-week program period
• where a participant’s EI Benefits period is currently less than 45 weeks—the participant will receive the EI Benefits for the remainder of the EI Benefits period, then receive provincial support at a rate of $250 per week for the remaining portion of the 45-week program period

• the participant will receive provincial support at a rate of $250 per week for the 45-week duration

For more information, contact a Self Employment Benefits Coordinator at 1-888- 303-2232 or pick up the document “Self Employment Benefits – Guide for Applicants” at one of our Department of Post-Secondary Education and Training Offices.