Self Employment Assistance Program (SEAP)

What is SEAP?

Ready for some acronyms? This is the section about the:

WA (Washington)

ESD (Employment Security Department)

SEAP (Sealf Employment Assistance Program)

If you are unemployed, you have the opportunity to apply for SEAP, which allows you to gain valuable skills and knowledge while receiving unemployment benefits. What a great program!

HOW TO APPLY

1. Complete the ESD SEAP application.

Click here for a PDF application with the Business Bootcamp course information already completed.

Be sure to complete the top section "Claimant's name and address"
The application requires start and end dates. I recommend a start date 1 week from submitting your application to me, and an end date the last day of the 6th month from start. For example:

Today's date: January 8

Start date: January 15

End date: July 31

2. Email us the completed and signed ESD SEAP application

Email your application to us at NWBusinessbootcamp@gmail.com

Ensure all pages are clear and legible.

We will sign the application and fax it to the ESD on your behalf.

3. Hang tight!

You should hear back from the ESD in 1-3 weeks, sometimes it takes longer. They will send you a letter and/or post the determination in your online account.

4. Once you've been approved

Head over to the Business Bootcamp page and click "enroll now".

Be sure to enroll at the discounted SEAP rate of $395!

Once enrolled, we will send you the first module to get started.

Send us an email if you have any questions about the program or this process.

SEAP Approved Provider

Northwest Business Training Center's accredited Business Bootcamp training program is approved by the Washington State's Employment Security Department (ESD) as a SEAP Approved Provider. This means that once approved by ESD, you will continue to collect unemployment benefits (and no longer have to do the weekly job searches) while you receive entrepreneurial training and business counseling for 6 months.

There are no special requirements to participate in the Business Bootcamp program; everyone is welcome.

SEAP Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at nwbusinessbootcamp@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.

Do I need to be enrolled with ESD in order to apply for SEAP?

Yes. You must be actively filing benefits claims for them to review your SEAP application.

Does the ESD pay for the course?

No, unfortunately there is no state money for these programs. We offer a deep discount to our unemployed students, so you pay only $395 for the entire course and six months of one-on-one business consulting.

Is there funding assistance for this program?

For assistance in paying for the course, contact your local WorkSource office to ask about the WIOA/Career Bridge program to see if you qualify.

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is a federally funded employment service. The goal of WIOA is to improve the quality of the workforce, reduce welfare dependency, increase economic self-sufficiency, meet skills requirements of employers, and enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the nation.

Do you have any eligibility requirements or limits on who can take the Business Bootcamp course?

No, anyone is welcome to take the Business Bootcamp, regardless of your financial, social, or unemployment status.

How does ESD make their eligibility decision?

They look at how likely you are to exhaust your unemployment benefits before finding a suitable job, based on labor market information and your application information. These are some of the criteria they look at:

Your education level.
The county where you live.
Your primary occupation (the occupation showing the largest amount of earnings in your base year).
The industry in which you received the most earnings in your recent work.
The Statewide unemployment rate.
Time of the year in which you apply for unemployment (which quarter you apply in)
Potential duration of your unemployment benefits (weeks of benefits)
Your unemployment Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA)

What happens if I am denied?

If your determination letter states you are denied, you have a few options. First, you can appeal the decision and write a letter to the ESD outlining why you believe you would exhaust your benefits before finding a suitable job. Second, you are still welcome to take the Business Bootcamp! We will generally still honor the SEAP discounted rate for students who were denied but still want to build the knowledge and foundation to start their own business.

I have questions about my SEAP application, who do I contact?

I am happy to answer any questions I can! Contact us.

If you have questions specifically about your application or eligibility, you can reach out to the SEAP department directly: 877-600-7701