Important Changes to the Fast Forward Program
The program information, related eligibility criteria and application form for Fast Forward Program have changed.
New eligibility requirement: Effective June 7, 2019, new applicants to the Fast Forward Program must be part of the labour force for at least 24 months throughout their employment history before being eligible for the program.
Updated program purpose: The intent of the Fast Forward Program is to encourage unemployed EI claimants to try to improve their skills during periods of unemployment. The federal government has asked that Nova Scotia adjust the Fast Forward program to ensure it aligns with the EI Program, and supports unemployed workers who are taking training during a period of unemployment.
Already approved? Current agreement holders will be advised of the changes and their implications in writing by Employment Nova Scotia.Fast Forward is a federal initiative that encourages unemployed EI claimants to improve their skills during periods of unemployment. Successful applicants can continue to receive federal Employment Insurance (EI) benefits while attending approved training opportunities. You must have a current claim for Regular Benefits or have applied to Service Canada for EI Regular Benefits before you apply.
This program does not fund training directly. You fund the training yourself. This program enables you to take training during your period of unemployment — at your own expense — while you continue to collect EI Regular Benefits. You continue to receive EI benefits for as long as your current claim lasts.
This program is a federal-provincial collaboration:
You may be eligible to participate in the Fast Forward Program if you meet all of the following criteria:
AND
To be attached to the labour force you must have been:
OR
Your 24 months of labour force attachment does not need to be continuous. You can have breaks and still qualify if the total LFA time throughout your employment history meets the 24 months minimum.
When calculating your 24 months, do not include any time for which you voluntarily withdrew or removed yourself from the labour market as a result of one or more of the following:
This program is for those who qualify for EI Regular Benefits.
Before you submit an application to the Fast Forward Program, you must either
• be receiving EI Regular Benefits
OR
• have requested EI Regular Benefits by starting an EI claim process with Service Canada
Without an active claim, we cannot accept your application. We return it to you.
If you may be eligible, we encourage you to begin the EI Regular Benefits claim process as soon as possible. This will allow you to submit an application for the Fast Forward Program to Employment Nova Scotia at the earliest possible date.
Please note: if you quit your job to return to school, you will likely not be eligible for EI Regular Benefits. If you are not eligible for EI Regular Benefits, you are not eligible for the Fast Forward Program.
You may apply either before or after your training program start date.
If you apply after your training program start date, then you must meet two conditions:
Deadlines are strictly enforced.
Training must meet all the following conditions to be considered for support under the Fast Forward Program:
This program authorizes you to continue to receive EI from Service Canada while in training only.
You continue to receive EI Regular Benefits during the training program — you are using your EI claim period to improve your skills and employability. The Fast Forward Program does not extend the length of time of your EI Regular Benefits. The scheduled end date of your EI claim does not change.
Support is linked to your EI claim. The amount of time you receive support and the date your support begins looks different for everyone. Here are some explanations of how support occurs depending on the timing of your application submission:
Should you have difficulty funding your education once your EI payments have ended, Employment Nova Scotia cannot help you.
Employment Nova Scotia
acknowledges receipt of your application by mail and email — sent within 5 business days
reviews your application for completeness
assesses your application against program criteria
If your application is approved, we mail you a copy of the approved Fast Forward Program Agreement. This agreement sets out your benefits and responsibilities.
Bridgewater
PO Box 3500
270 Logan Road
Bridgewater, NS B4V 3V3
Fax: 902-541-5651
Halifax
Suite 301 - 103 Garland Avenue
Dartmouth, NS B3B 0K5
Fax: 902-722-5038
New Glasgow
187 Terra Cotta Drive
New Glasgow, NS B2H 6B6
Fax: 902-928-3697
Truro
Suite 8 - 60 Lorne Street
Truro, NS B2N 3K3
Fax: 902-896-4497
Sydney
Suite 3 - 1030 Upper Prince St
Sydney, NS B1P 5P6
Fax: 902-563-3525