Self-Employment Benefits (SEB) Program at Job Skills

Effective October 9, 2009, the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities has indicated that new applications to the Ontario Self-Employment Benefit Program will not be accepted.

Contact your Assessment Centre Counsellor to discuss your options.

From artists to wine-makers, personal shoppers to custom woodworkers, e-business to high-tech hardware support, entrepreneurs have received a helping hand from Job Skills to get their new businesses off the ground.

Several years ago, Job Skills looked at offering self-employment programs and services as a way to assist clients who wanted to use their entrepreneurial skills to create their own employment. Today, the Agency offers a range of business development programs and services to hundreds of entrepreneurs a year. In 1997, the Agency started a Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) program in Newmarket. Over the years,clients have represented all business sectors — from manufacturing to retail, information technology to health care. In March 2001, SEA evolved into the Self-Employment Benefits (SEB) Program.

Eligibility/Suitability
To be eligible to apply for Job Skills' SEB Program individuals must be:

• currently unemployed;
• legally entitled to work in Canada;
• have established an Employment Insurance (EI) claim, or have a claim that has ended within the last three years, or have received maternity or parental benefits within the past five years after which they have remained out of the labour market to care for the child and are now seeking to re-enter the labour force; and
• be a resident of York Region / Bradford West Gwillimbury and starting a business there or a resident of Dufferin / Halton / Peel and starting a business there.

Other criteria apply and Persons with Disabilities may be eligible under different criteria and should visit Job Skills' Opportunities Fund SEB Program page.

If you are interested in finding out how the SEB Program can assist with your business idea or for complete Eligibility Criteria, York Region / Bradford West Gwillimbury residents can contact Job Skills' Newmarket site (nmkt@jobskills.org / 905-898-5138). Mississauga residents can contact our Mississauga site (dhp-seb@jobskills.org / 905-306-7104 / 1-866-592-6278). Toronto residents can contact our North York site (seb-tn@jobskills.org / 416-221-1648). Brampton/Halton/Dufferin residents can contact our Brampton site (seb-brampton@jobskills.org / 905-460-8585 / 1-877-760-8585.