Self-employment Program - SE

Note: HRSDC has entered into agreements with most provinces and territories to define how the Benefits and Measures would be delivered in each region. As a result, in New Brunswick, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, programs similar to the Employment Benefits and Support Measures are delivered by the provincial or territorial government pursuant to agreements under Section 63 of the Employment Insurance Act. HRSDC delivers the Employment Benefits and Support Measures in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, British Columbia, and the Yukon. Contact the Human Resources Centre of Canada nearest you for details.

The Self-employment benefit provides unemployed employment insurance eligible individuals with income and entrepreneurial support while they develop and implement their business plan.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible participants are those who, pursuant to the Employment Insurance Act, are unemployed individuals who at the time of applying for the Self-Employment Program:

• for whom an unemployment benefit period has been established or has ended within the 36 months prior to the date of requesting assistance; or
• for whom a benefit period that included a maternity or parental claim has been established within the 60 months prior to the date of requesting assistance, after which the individual remained out of the labour market in order to care for a newborn or newly adopted child and is now seeking to re-enter the labour force.

Other criteria may apply.

Eligible Area

Canadian provinces and territories.

Eligible Activities

Starting a new business.

Summary

Duration

• The maximum duration of support is 52 weeks.
• The maximum duration is 78 weeks for clients with a disability that will affect their ability to make the business sustainable in one year.

How to apply?

Participants must apply at their local Office. (see list below).

British Columbia Contact(s):
Service Canada Centres
For a complete list of all Service Canada Centres please visit the Web site or check the government listings in your telephone directory.
Web site: http://www1.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/gateways/where_you_live/regions/bc-yk.shtml

Newfoundland & Labrador Contact(s):
Service Canada Centres
For a complete list of all Service Canada Centres please visit the Web site or check the government listings in your telephone directory.
Web site: http://www1.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/gateways/where_you_live/regions/nl.shtml

Nova Scotia Contact(s):
Service Canada Centres
For a complete list of all Service Canada Centres please visit the Web site or check the government listings in your telephone directory.
Web site: http://www1.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/gateways/where_you_live/regions/ns.shtml

Ontario Contact(s):
Service Canada Centres
For a complete list of all Service Canada Centres please visit the Web site or check the government listings in your telephone directory.
Web site: http://www1.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/gateways/where_you_live/regions/on.shtml

Prince Edward Island Contact(s):
Service Canada Centres
For a complete list of all Service Canada Centres please visit the Web site or check the government listings in your telephone directory.
Web site: http://www1.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/gateways/where_you_live/regions/pe.shtml

Yukon Contact(s):
Service Canada Centres
For a complete list of all Service Canada Centres please visit the Web site or check the government listings in your telephone directory.
Web site: http://www1.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/gateways/where_you_live/regions/bc-yk.shtml