The Self Employment Program provides entrepreneurial support and may also provide financial assistance to eligible unemployed individuals to assist them with the planning and start-up of their business.
Entrepreneurial support includes orientation, workshops, coaching, mentoring, and access to specific business training (some of which is mandatory) that will enable participants to develop and implement their business idea.
Eligibility Information
Individual eligibility
You may be eligible for participation in the Self Employment Program if all of the following are true for you. You:
- Are unemployed.
- Are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident legally entitled to work in Canada.
- Are a resident of Nova Scotia.
- Need to earn full-time employment income*.
- Have attached to the labour force for a minimum of 24 months*.
- Have a business idea.
- Are LMDA eligible by meeting one of the following criteria:
- You have a current Employment Insurance (EI) claim.
- You have had an EI claim that ended within the last 60 months.
- You have been employed with gross insurable earnings of $2000 or higher annually, in at least 5 of the last 10 years.
Business idea eligibility
The Self-Employment Coordinator will assess whether your business idea is eligible under the program.
Participation Requirements and Financial Assistance
The SE Program has two streams:
Stream 1 – individuals who have not been able to find employment over a period of a minimum of 3 months.
You must have evidence and records of your comprehensive job search that clearly shows your job search efforts did not result in employment.
This stream provides:
- entrepreneurial support;
- if applicable, continued receipt of your Employment Insurance (EI) benefits for the remainder of your claim. (Note: the SE Program will not increase the number of weeks you will be paid EI benefits.);
- financial assistance (a weekly living allowance) through a funding agreement with Employment Nova Scotia; and
- financial assistance for all or part of the following costs related to participation (dependent care, disability needs, tuition costs, transportation, and accommodation).
Stream 2 – individuals who are unemployed, but do not wish to look for employment.
This stream provides:
- entrepreneurial support, and
- if applicable, continued receipt of your Employment Insurance (EI) benefits for the remainder of your claim (Note: The SE Program will not increase the number of weeks you will be paid EI benefits).
For more information: https://novascotia.ca/employmentnovascotia/programs/self-employment.asp
