Economic Injury Disaster Loans (2024)

Small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and most private nonprofit organizations located in a declared disaster area and which have suffered substantial economic injury may be eligible for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).

If you’ve been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, learn more about aCOVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).

If you have suffered substantial economic injury and are one of the following types of businesses located in adeclared disaster area, you may be eligible for an SBA EIDL:

  • Small business
  • Small agricultural cooperative
  • Most private nonprofit organizations

Eligibility

  • Substantial economic injury means the business is unable to meet its obligations and pay its ordinary and necessary operating expenses.
  • EIDLprovides the necessary working capital to help small businesses impacted by a disastersurvive until normal operations resume.
  • EIDL assistance is available only to small businesses when SBA determines they are unable to obtain credit elsewhere.

SBA can provide up to $2 million* to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred. The loan amount will be based on your actual economic injury and your company's financial needs, regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.

*A business may qualify for, both, an EIDL and a physical disaster loan.

The maximum combined loan amount is $2 million. A separate SBA Disaster Assistance program known asbusiness physical disaster loanscovers property damage.

Use of proceeds

  • Working capital and normal expenses such as the continuation of health care benefits, rent, utilities, and fixed debt payments

Terms

  • First payment deferred for 12 months
  • No interest accrual for the first 12 months
  • The interest rate will not exceed 4%

Maturity

  • Up to 30 years, with repayment term to be determined by ability to repay the loan
  • No pre-payment penalty or fees

Collateral requirements

  • Required for loans over $25,000
  • Real estate is the preferred collateral. Loans of $200,000 or less will not require the owner of the business to use their primary residence as collateral if it is determined the owner has other assets of equal quality and a value equal to or greater than the amount of the loan.

How to apply

Apply online for an SBA disaster assistance loan. SBA will send an inspector to estimate the cost of damage, once your application is completed and submitted.

Additional information

Contact theSBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Centerat:

Phone: 800-659-2955

TTY/TRS: 711

Email:disastercustomerservice@sba.gov

Economic Injury Disaster Loans (2024)

FAQs

Will the EIDL loan ever be forgiven? ›

Will EIDL Loans be Forgiven? An EIDL cannot be forgiven; as a result, the whole amount due must be paid. The SBA website states that this grant is no longer accessible.

How long does it take for the economic disaster loan approval? ›

We strive to make loan determinations within 2–3 weeks after receiving complete application packages.

What happens if you can't pay back the EIDL loan? ›

The U.S. Treasury Department garnishes your wages to satisfy the EIDL loan debt. It sends an administrative order to your non-federal employer and asks them to withhold 15% of your wages. Your employer will garnish your wages and send them to the U.S. Treasury Department accordingly.

Will EIDL loans be forgiven in 2024? ›

Important: you must apply for PPP loan forgiveness or bring your COVID EIDL loan into good standing before March 3, 2024. After this date, defaulted borrowers may accrue additional non-forgivable fees, fines and face other collections actions.

What happens to EIDL loan if business closes? ›

Am I personally liable for my EIDL loan? This depends again on the contract you signed. The SBA may have required you to sign a personal guarantee or it may have required you to pledge property as collateral for the loan. If this is the case, then you are personally liable for the loan even if your business closes.

Are business owners personally liable for EIDL loans? ›

Personal Liability

In some cases, business owners may be personally liable for repaying the EIDL loan. If you have defaulted on an EIDL loan of more than $200,000, your personal assets can be seized.

What is the minimum credit score for SBA disaster loan? ›

To obtain a loan via COVID-19 EIDL, small business owners must have met the eligibility requirements. Additionally, below were the credit score requirements: $500,000 or under: 570. Greater than $500,000: 625.

Does everyone get approved for SBA disaster loan? ›

If you have bad credit, or your small business credit score isn't stellar, the SBA will still consider other factors, such as recent income and your history of rent, utilities, insurance, and other payments, to determine whether you qualify for an SBA disaster loan.

Will all EIDL loans be audited? ›

If you are a non-profit COVID-19 EIDL borrower that expended $750,000 or more in loan funds (and expenditures from other Federal awards) in a single year, you are subject to requirements under the Single Audit Act.

Can I lose my house if I default on SBA loan? ›

Unfortunately, once there is an SBA loan default, the house is now at risk. Pursuant to the SBA standard operating procedures, real property collateral must be liquidated in a manner that will maximize recovery on the loan in the shortest amount of time.

What happens if you default on a EIDL loan? ›

Defaulting on your EIDL loan means you've failed to meet your repayment obligations. This can lead to legal actions, a damaged credit score, and may impact your ability to obtain future financing.

What if I can't afford to pay my SBA loan? ›

If you contact your lender, you may be able to set up a repayment strategy. On the other hand, if you don't try to make an effort to repay, the SBA will likely seize any collateral you used to secure the loan — and if necessary, the government can take legal action against you.

How do I get my SBA disaster loan forgiven? ›

SBA PPP Direct Forgiveness Portal

After registration, you may use this streamlined process to automatically submit your forgiveness request to your lender. The SBA also offers live customer service to borrowers at 877-552-2692. If you already have Log-in credentials, you can login here.

Can you settle an SBA EIDL loan? ›

When an LLC defaults on an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), one of the avenues available for mitigating the situation is through the SBA's Offer-In-Compromise (OIC) program. This program allows borrowers to settle their debt for less than the full amount owed under certain circ*mstances.

What is the SBA EIDL hardship payment plan? ›

COVID EIDL hardship accommodation plans significantly lower monthly payments – sometimes as low as $25 per month – for six months, and then payments gradually increase over a multi-year period.

Is it possible that SBA loans will be forgiven? ›

Loan forgiveness is not a right. The SBA doesn't owe you anything. A settlement is based on financial hardship, which means you need to prove that you lack the assets and income to repay the debt in full.

Do COVID EIDL loans have to be repaid? ›

Specific Eligibility Requirements – Disaster Loan Program

Unlike the PPP loans mentioned above, the EIDL loans are not forgivable and must be repaid.

How can I lower my EIDL loan payment? ›

For COVID EIDL Borrowers:

COVID EIDL hardship accommodation plans significantly lower monthly payments – sometimes as low as $25 per month – for six months, and then payments gradually increase over a multi-year period. More information for COVID EIDL hardship accommodation plans is available on the SBA website.

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