The SBA on Tuesday announced that it intends to provide additional deferment of principal and interest payments for existing COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan, or EIDL, program borrowers.
The agency said it will provide existing COVID EIDL program borrowers a total of 30 months deferment from inception on all approved COVID EIDL loans. The extended deferment period will 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, the agency stated.
According to the SBA:
- The 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’s Capital Access Financial System and learn how to set up an account.
- 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 preauthorized debit must contact their SBA servicing center to stop recurring payments during the extended deferment period. COVID-EIDL Borrowers who have established a preauthorized debit 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.