Self-Employment Assistance

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Self-Employment Assistance is an employment program that provides financial and entrepreneurial assistance to eligible individuals to help them create jobs for themselves by starting a business. There are two elements to the program, one for organizations acting as coordinators for the program and one for individuals seeking assistance.

 

Information for Individuals

Am I Eligible?

You are eligible if you are an unemployed individual:

  • Who has a current EI claim; or
  • Who is an unemployed person for whom a benefit period is established or whose benefit period has ended within the previous 60 months.

Other criteria may apply.

How do I Apply?

Key Facts

Qualification Date:

  • The date your completed application is received by the Department of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills is the date when you are considered to have requested assistance.
  • This date is used to determine whether you qualify as an “insured participant” within the timeframes outlined above.

Extended Benefits:

  • If you are currently receiving Employment Insurance benefits, you may continue to receive these benefits until the end of your benefit period, after which you may be eligible to receive a living allowance to the end of your Self-Employment Assistance agreement.
  • If you are not in receipt of Employment Insurance benefits, you may be eligible to receive financial assistance for living expenses.

Financial Assistance:

  • 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, transportation and accommodation).

Duration:

  • The maximum duration of an agreement with a participant is 52 weeks, and 78 weeks for persons with a disability.

Information for Organizations/Sponsors

Is my Organization Eligible?

Businesses, organizations, municipalities, band/tribal councils, public health and educational institutions are eligible to receive funding as Self-Employment Assistance Coordinators.

How do I Apply?

Employers must register in the Department of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills’ LaMPSS payment system to apply on-line. Once registration is complete, a password and user ID will be provided. To register, please press Register on LaMPSS system.

Program Guidelines have been developed in order to assist employers applying on-line. Program Guidelines can be accessed under Forms below.

Once registered on the LaMPSS system, employers may apply directly on-line and/or update information using its self-serve function and the provided user password and ID. To apply on-line using the self-serve component of LaMPSS, please link to the following website which contains LaMPSS User Guidelines, System Requirements and the Login LaMPSS Employer Self-Serve.

Forms

Note: all links below are PDFs and will open in a new window.

Contact Information

Immigration, Population Growth and Skills Office Locations

General enquiries: 1-800-563-6600

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