Sba Loan Disaster Loan Application Requirements and Benefits

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Applying for an SBA Disaster Loan can be a daunting task, but understanding the requirements and benefits can make it more manageable. The SBA requires a physical damage assessment to determine the extent of damage to your property.

To qualify for an SBA Disaster Loan, you must have suffered physical damage or economic injury as a direct result of a declared disaster. This can include damage to your home, business, or personal property.

The SBA offers favorable loan terms, including low interest rates and long repayment periods, to help you recover from a disaster. You can borrow up to $2 million to cover disaster-related expenses.

FEMA Aid and Disaster Relief

You must apply for an SBA loan if you want FEMA to help with the cost of repairing or replacing personal property.

FEMA aid is often called “SBA-dependent FEMA aid” if you need to apply for an SBA loan to qualify. You can apply for FEMA aid and an SBA loan at the same time.

Apply for FEMA aid as soon as possible, even if you also have to apply for an SBA loan. You have a limited number of days after the disaster to apply for FEMA aid, so don't wait.

FEMA's Other Needs Assistance (ONA) program includes types of SBA-dependent FEMA aid.

SBA Loan Application Process

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To apply for an SBA loan after a disaster, you must live in or operate a business in a federally declared disaster area.

You can register with FEMA by calling 800-621-3362 or visiting DisasterAssistance.gov to get a registration number. You can also apply online for your loan, by mail, or in-person at a Disaster Recovery Center. To find a Disaster Recovery Center near you, use FEMA's online locator or text "DRC" and your ZIP code to 43362.

To complete your application, you'll need to provide contact information for all applicants, Social Security numbers for all applicants, your FEMA registration number, deed or lease information, insurance information, and financial information, including income, bank account balances, and monthly expenses.

Assistance

SBA Disaster Loan Assistance is available to homeowners, renters, nonprofits, and businesses to help them recover from a disaster.

These loans are specifically created for disaster survivors and must be used to repair or replace a home or personal property. Personal property includes things you own that can be moved to different locations.

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You must pay back the money to SBA over time, and you also pay interest, an additional amount of money that builds up over time. The interest rate for the loan determines how much additional money you must pay back.

SBA's interest rate is no higher than 4% for anyone who cannot get a loan somewhere else. You pay back a portion of the loan each month, and you must pay back the full amount within a certain number of years, which can be up to 30 years.

If SBA decides you cannot afford a loan, they will automatically refer you to FEMA's Other Needs Assistance (ONA) program. Money from the ONA program is not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back.

Here's a summary of the SBA loan interest rates:

An SBA loan might not cover all your costs, but you may be able to get FEMA aid to cover the rest of your costs.

Applying for

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Applying for an SBA loan can seem daunting, but it's actually a relatively straightforward process. First, you must live in a federally declared disaster area or operate a business in that area to be eligible.

To apply, register with FEMA by calling 800-621-3362 or visiting DisasterAssistance.gov to get a registration number. You can also apply online for the fastest response, by mail, or in-person at a Disaster Recovery Center.

You'll need to provide various documents, including contact information for all applicants, Social Security numbers for all applicants, FEMA registration number, deed or lease information, insurance information, and financial information such as income, bank account balances, and monthly expenses.

SBA may ask for additional information, which will come from your SBA loan officer. They'll review your application and decide if you can afford a loan. If they decide you can't, they may refer you to FEMA's Other Needs Assistance (ONA) program.

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Here's a list of the typical forms you may need to fill out as part of the application process:

  1. SBA Form 5 – Business Loan Application
  2. SBA Form 413 – Personal Financial Statement (required for everyone with ownership of 20% or greater)
  3. SBA Form 1368 – Monthly Sales figures and forecasts
  4. SBA Form 2202 – Schedule of Liabilities
  5. IRS Form 4506-T – Request for Transcript of Tax Return (required for the applicant entity and everyone with ownership of 20% or greater)
  6. Additional information may be required, such as business or personal tax returns, year-end and/or interim financial statements, and monthly sales figures.

It's worth noting that SBA has simplified the application process with a fully online application, which you can access through their website.

Collateral

Collateral is an important aspect of the SBA loan application process. If you're applying for a loan amount that exceeds $25,000, you'll need to provide collateral.

Here are the specific requirements for collateral:

  1. Required for loan amounts that exceed $25,000.
  2. Applicants will not be declined solely on the basis of a lack of collateral. However, SBA will require whatever collateral is available, which may include liens on real estate.

What is a Cover

A cover is a crucial part of the SBA loan application process, and it's often misunderstood.

The SBA requires a cover letter or cover page to accompany your loan application, which should include your business name, loan amount, and loan purpose.

A well-written cover letter can make a great first impression and help you stand out from the competition.

The SBA recommends that your cover letter be brief and to the point, no more than one page in length.

The SBA loan application process can be lengthy, but a clear and concise cover letter can help speed up the review process.

In your cover letter, be sure to highlight your business's strengths and how the loan will be used to achieve your goals.

Economic Injury and Stimulus Packages

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The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program has been a vital source of support for small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The application deadline for the EIDL has been extended through December 31, 2021.

The EIDL program offers low-interest loans of up to $2 million to impacted small businesses, with interest rates as low as 2.75% for non-profits. The application process for Disaster Loans currently remains the same.

$20 billion has been allocated for additional emergency grants, which will be offered separately from the EIDL loan. You will need to apply for the grant money separately in order to receive it.

To qualify for the full $10,000 new targeted EIDL grants, your business must meet the following criteria:

  • Your business is located in a low-income community.
  • You have suffered an economic loss greater than 30%.
  • You employ no more than 300 employees.

The advance does not need to be repaid under any circumstance, even if your loan application is denied.

Updated Covid-19 Qualifications

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a lot of changes to the SBA loan application process. To qualify for a COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan, you can be a business with no more than 500 employees.

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Your business can be a sole proprietorship, with or without employees, or as an independent contractor. You can also operate a cooperative with no more than 500 employees. If you're an individual who operates under an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), you're eligible too.

You can also qualify if you operate as a tribal small business, as described in 15 U.S.C. 657a(b)(2)(C), with not more than 500 employees. Additionally, if you operate an agricultural cooperative, aquaculture enterprise, nursery, or producer cooperative, you qualify if it meets the SBA Size Standards.

Here are the updated COVID-19 SBA Disaster Loan qualifications:

Keep in mind that you can also qualify if you operate a private non-profit organization that meets certain criteria.

Financial Assistance and Funding

You can apply for SBA loans specifically created for disaster survivors, which help them recover from the disaster. These loans are available to homeowners, renters, nonprofits, and businesses.

You must pay back the money to SBA over time, including interest, which is an additional amount of money that builds up over time. The interest rate for the loan determines how much additional money you must pay back, and SBA's interest rate is no higher than 4% for anyone who cannot get a loan somewhere else.

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You can use your business plan as a management tool to track the financial health of your business, and having clear financial and operational documents is important when applying for a business loan. If you're struggling to write or update your business plan, consider using business planning software like LivePlan.

You can find additional resources to help you manage your loan, such as the guide prepared by Texas RioGrande Legal Aid on Managing an SBA Disaster Loan. This guide includes information about loan terms, recommended recordkeeping, and common loan requirements.

The SBA may also offer subsidy for certain loan payments, paying the principal, interest, and any associated fees owed on existing Section 7(a), title V or 7(m) loans for a six-month period starting on the next payment due date.

Subsidy Payments

The SBA offers a subsidy for certain loan payments, specifically for existing Section 7(a), title V or 7(m) loans.

This subsidy pays the principal, interest, and associated fees owed on these loans for a six-month period starting on the next payment due date. The SBA will begin making payments within 30 days of the due date.

As a result, the borrower is relieved of the obligation to pay those amounts during this time period.

Financial Help and Tips

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SBA Disaster Loan Assistance is available to homeowners, renters, nonprofits, and businesses to help them recover from a disaster. These loans must be paid back over time, and you'll also pay interest on the amount borrowed.

You can use the money from an SBA loan to repair or replace a home or personal property. Personal property includes items that can be moved to different locations, such as furniture or electronics.

The interest rate for an SBA loan is no higher than 4% for those who cannot get a loan elsewhere. This means you'll pay back a portion of the loan each month, with the full amount due within a certain number of years, typically up to 30 years.

If you're struggling to afford an SBA loan, SBA may refer you to FEMA's Other Needs Assistance (ONA) program, which provides money that doesn't need to be repaid.

If your SBA loan doesn't cover all your costs, you may be eligible for FEMA aid to cover the rest of your expenses.

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To make the most of your SBA loan, it's essential to keep your business plan up to date. This will help you manage your finances and make informed decisions about your business.

A living business plan can also serve as a management tool to track the financial health of your business. It can help you avoid putting together financial and operational documents on the spot.

For those who find writing or updating a business plan daunting, there are tools like LivePlan that can guide you through the process. This software provides automatic financials and helps you run multiple forecasting scenarios.

If you're unsure about managing your SBA loan, you can turn to resources like the guide prepared by Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. This guide offers tips on loan terms, recordkeeping, and common loan requirements.

Here are some key things to keep in mind when managing your SBA loan:

  • Pay back a portion of the loan each month.
  • The full amount must be paid back within a certain number of years.
  • Interest rates are capped at 4% for those who cannot get a loan elsewhere.
  • You may be referred to FEMA's ONA program if you cannot afford the loan.
  • FEMA aid may be available to cover remaining costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the SBA disaster loan still available?

Yes, the SBA disaster loan is still available, and new loan offers are being issued. Apply online at SBA.gov/disaster to learn more and submit your application before the deadline.

What credit score is required for an SBA disaster loan?

To qualify for an SBA disaster loan, you typically need a credit score between 640 and 670, but the SBA will verify your credit and determine eligibility. A higher credit score may improve your chances of approval.

Virgil Wuckert

Senior Writer

Virgil Wuckert is a seasoned writer with a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling. With a background in insurance and construction, he brings a unique perspective to his writing, tackling complex topics with clarity and precision. His articles have covered a range of categories, including insurance adjuster and roof damage assessment, where he has demonstrated his ability to break down complex concepts into accessible language.

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