The U.S. Small Business Administration recently announced additional deferment of principal and interest payments for existing COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan borrowers for a total of 30 months deferment from inception on all approved COVID EIDL loans.
The extended deferment period aims to provide additional flexibility to small business owners impacted by the pandemic, especially those in hard-hit sectors managing disruption with recent variants, as well as recent supply chain and inflation challenges amid a growing economic recovery.
Since its inception, the COVID EIDL program, a federal disaster relief loan, has allocated more than $351 billion in relief aid to 3.9 million borrowers.
Information regarding deferment:
– This deferment extension is effective for all COVID EIDL loans approved in calendar years 2020, 2021 and 2022; loans now have a total deferment of 30 months from the date of the note; interest will continue to accrue on the loans during the deferment
– Borrowers may make partial or full payments during the deferment period, but are not required to; the SBA recommends using pay.gov
– The SBA will not send monthly SBA Form 1201 payment notices, however, the SBA will send regular payment reminders via email
– Existing COVID EIDL borrowers can find account balances and payment due dates in the SBA Capital Access Financial System and learn how to set up an account in the CAFS system by logging in here
– Deferments may result in balloon payments; the deferment will not stop any established Preauthorized Debit or recurring payments on the loan; COVID EIDL borrowers with an SBA established PAD must contact their SBA servicing center to stop recurring payments during the extended deferment period; COVID EIDL borrowers who have established a PAD through pay.gov or any other bill pay service are responsible for terminating recurring payments during the extended deferment period
– After the deferment period ends, COVID EIDL borrowers will be required to make regular principal and interest payments beginning 30 months from the date of the note
Borrowers with questions can call SBA’s COVID EIDL Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-833-853-5638 or email DiasterCustomerService@sba.gov. The center is open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit sba.gov/relief for additional information.
