Self Employment

Self-Employment is an employment program of Employment Nova Scotia that provides financial assistance to eligible individuals to help them create jobs for themselves by starting a business.

Program Information

Program objective

Self-Employment assists unemployed eligible individuals create jobs for themselves by starting a business.

Who delivers Self-Employment?

Employment Nova Scotia delivers Self-Employment and other Employment Benefits and Support Measures in Nova Scotia.

Eligibility Information

Individuals
Am I eligible for participation in Self-Employment?

To be eligible for participation in Self-Employment, you must be an unemployed individual ("insured participant") as defined by Section 58 of the Employment Insurance Act. This means that you are an individual for whom:

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

Other criteria may apply.

What else do I need to know?

  • The date your completed application is received by Employment Nova Scotia 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.
  • If you are currently receiving Employment Insurance, you may continue to receive your regular Employment Insurance 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 agreement.
  • If you are not in receipt of Employment Insurance benefits, you may be eligible to receive financial assistance for living expenses.
  • Temporary financial 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, tuition costs, transportation and accommodation).
  • The maximum duration of an agreement with a participant is 40 weeks.
  • Self-Employment fact sheet
Organizations

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

Application Information

How do I apply?
Individuals

As part of the application process, it is necessary for you to receive an employment assessment and develop a Return to Work Action Plan with a case manager. The case manager's decision is required before Employment Nova Scotia can assess your application. Please refer to the list of Employment Assistance Service providers to find one that provides Case Management in your area.

Complete the application form Self-Employment Benefit Participant Application and submit it to your local Employment Nova Scotia office.

Sponsors/Coordinators
  • Sponsors/coordinators seeking funding the Self-Employment program will be able to apply online using the LaMPSS system.  To register for the LaMPSS system, please call 1-877-223-0888 to obtain a registration package
  • For details on the application process and program eligibility/information please download the Program Guidelines.

Self Employment/Community Coordinators

Organizations seeking funding under the Self-Employment Community Coordinator option should contact their local Employment Nova Scotia Office. Please read the Program Guidelines for detailed information about the LaMPSS application process.

Forms

Contact Information