Self
Employment Benefit
Service Canada offers the Self-Employment Benefit (SEB) program to help provide eligible individuals with financial assistance for a fixed period of time while they are starting up a new business. Through the CBDC Trinity Conception, Employment Assistance Counsellors assess client eligibility and a Self-Employment Benefit Coordinator and Committee evaluate business proposals.
To be eligible for Self-Employment Benefits, eligible participants must meet the following conditions:
- Be unemployed
- Have established an Employment Insurance (EI) Benefit Claim OR
- Have been in receipt of EI Benefits within the last 36 months OR
- Have begun Maternity or Parental Benefits within the past 60 months after which he/she remained out of the labour market to care for the child and is now seeking to re-enter the labour force
- Be legally entitled to work in Canada
- Start a new business or take over an existing business in which the participant had no prior ownership
- If entering into a partnership, the eligible participant must have control of the venture with at least 51% ownership
- Agree to work full-time on your business while you receive Self-Employment financial assistance (at least 35 hours per week)
- Be able to contribute 25% personal investment (cash or in-kind)
- Agree to attend training seminars
You cannot start your business until you have completed the assessment process and you have signed an agreement with Service Canada for Self-Employment Benefits.
Clients who have already established their business are not eligible for support through the Self-Employment Benefit Program.
Type of Business:
- The proposed business must be suitable for public funding and not exploit sex, religion, or politics
- Seasonal Work must be complemented with year round Self-Employment activity (more than one type of seasonal enterprise)
- Participants who will be agents for a business or subcontractors cannot get support
Type of Financial Assistance:
- If you are receiving EI Benefits, your rate will be set at $350/week until your claim expires, at which time you will receive support for the duration of your Self Employment Agreement. (If your current rate exceeds $350/week, you will continue at your current rate until your claim expires and then the rate will be reduced to $350 for the duration of the Self Employment Agreement.)
- If eligible for Self-Employment BUT NOT presently receiving EI Benefits, you will receive support (presently $350/week) for the duration of your Self-Employment Agreement.
- Additional support (example: Dependant Care Allowance) may be available to you.
Duration of Assistance:
Under the Self Employment Benefit, assistance can be provided for a maximum of 52 weeks (up to 78 weeks for eligible participants who have a disability that will affect their ability to make the business sustainable in one year).
Type of Assistance:
CBDC Trinity Conception will provide guidance and advice for business plan development and implementation. Selected participants will have access to business-related workshops, individual business consultation and on-going support for the duration of the participant's Self-Employment Agreement.
For further information please contact CBDC Trinity Conception at 1-888-303-2232
www.cbdc-tc.ca or the nearest Employment Assistance Services (EAS) Office
Bay Roberts EAS Office: (709) 786-1240 Green’s Harbour EAS Office: (709) 582-2810
Carbonear EAS Office: (709) 596-3470 Old Perlican EAS Office: (709) 587-2343 |
