Economic Injury Disaster Loans

If your small business, small agricultural cooperative, small business engaged in aquaculture, or private, nonprofit organization has suffered economic injury, regardless of physical damage, and is located in a declared disaster area, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

What is an Economic Injury Disaster Loan?

If your business is located in a declared disaster area and has suffered economic injury because of the disaster (regardless of physical damage), you may be eligible for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). Substantial economic injury is the inability of a business to meet its obligations as they mature and to pay its ordinary and necessary operating expenses. EIDLs provide the necessary working capital to help small businesses survive until normal operations resume after a disaster.

Economic Injury Disaster Loan Eligibility

Those eligible for these loans are small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquacutlure, and most private nonprofit organizations of all sizes that have suffered substantial economic injury resulting from a physical disaster or an agricultural production disaster (as designated by the Secretary of Agriculture).

EIDL assistance is available only to small businesses determined unable to obtain credit elsewhere. The SBA can provide up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred. Your 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.

Proper Use of Economic Injury Disaster Loan Proceeds

An EIDL can help you meet the normal financial obligations that your business or private nonprofit organization could have met had the disaster not occurred. It permits you to maintain a reasonable working capital position during the period affected by the disaster.

Interest Rates on Economic Injury Disaster Loans

The interest rate on EIDLs cannot exceed 4 percent per year. The term of these loans cannot exceed 30 years. Your term will be determined by your ability to repay the loan.

Application Information

Businesses may apply directly to the SBA for possible assistance. The SBA will send an inspector to estimate the cost of your damage once you have completed and returned your loan application.

SBA now offers you the option of filing your business disaster loan application electronically. Downloadable application forms are available at: Apply for Assistance.

For additional information, please contact our Customer Service Center. Call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.


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