The COVID-19 pandemic has filled the entire world with uncertainty. Parents are homeschooling their children, many businesses have closed their doors or changed their operations, and workers have been laid off. If you’re a small business owner looking for financial relief, you may face another uncertainty: when you’ll actually receive your Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Emergency Advance.
Many small business owners facing financial challenges have applied for the EIDL program. If you’re one of the thousands that have submitted their applications, congratulations — you’re one step closer to getting the relief your business needs. However, as with other SBA loans, the EIDL program isn’t exactly the fastest source of funding. The addition of the Emergency Advance through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and expedited processing of loans has made it possible to receive funds faster than ever, but many business owners are still in the dark about when funding will come through.
If you’ve applied for the EIDL and are waiting not-so-patiently for much-needed financial relief, you’re in the right place. In this post, we’ll look at the ways you can check the status of your loan, what you’ll need in order to check your status, and even ways to identify potential scams. 3 Places To Check The Status Of Your EIDL Application
The information below is sourced from the SBA website. Unfortunately, some merchants are reporting that when contacting the SBA, they have found that there is currently no way to check the status of your EIDL application. We presume that this is due to the high volume of applications the SBA has received. Be aware that some methods of contact might not work at this time. There are three ways to check the status of your EIDL application, and all are directly through the SBA. Keep reading to learn more about these methods for verifying the status of your loan application.
Online Through The SBA Website If you submitted your application online, you can check the status of your loan through the SBA website. This is the quickest and easiest way to verify the status of your EIDL. Please note that if you applied through the expedited COVID-19 portal, you will be unable to check your status online. Simply log into the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Portal using the email address or username and password with which you registered when completing your online application. Once you’ve logged in, you’ll be able to check the status of your loan. As an alternative, you can also check your loan status through the Disaster Loan Assistance Portal. This also requires the username and password used when applying for your loan. Through these portals, you can view information related to your application including the application number, the current status, and the date that the status was last updated.
By Phone You can also find out the status of your EIDL application by phone. You can use this method if you submitted your application online or by mail. Call 1-800-659-2955 (the SBA Disaster Assistance customer service center) about the application process, the status of your loan, or with any other questions you may have. If you applied through the COVID-19 portal, the SBA will contact you, but you may be able to get answers by calling the toll-free number. If you mailed in your application, this is the best way to find out the status of your loan, as you won’t have a username and password to log onto the online portal. On the plus side, this method allows you to talk to an SBA rep that will answer your questions, even if these go beyond finding out the status of your loan. On the other hand, though, you may be stuck waiting on hold, as other business owners are also inquiring about the EIDL program and loan statuses.
By Email You can also reach out to the SBA by email to learn more about the status of your loan or to inquire about the EIDL program. All emails should be directed to the disaster assistance customer service team at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Use this method if you have additional questions about the program or submitted your application by mail. Otherwise, you’ll be better served using the online portal to check the status of your loan.
What You’ll Need To Check Your EIDL Status What you’ll need in order to check your EIDL status varies based on how you contact the SBA. The easiest way is through the online portal. If you use this method, you’ll need the username that you selected when filling out your application. You can also use the email address that you used when signing up. Additionally, you’ll need to enter your password to access the portal. If you call in, you won’t have a username or password, so you’ll need to provide additional information. If you applied online, have your application number ready. You may also need to verify additional information, such as the name of your business, federal tax ID, and/or your legal name. If you email the SBA, make sure to provide your legal name and your application number (if you applied online). You may also be required to submit additional information, such as your business name, federal tax ID, or other identifying information. If you applied through the COVID-19 portal, the SBA will be in contact with you regarding next steps.
Watch Out For These EIDL Application Status Scams
Whenever there’s money involved, you can be sure that there’s a scammer out there looking to take it, and EIDL funding is no exception. If you receive an email, double-check that the sender’s address ends in sba.gov. Some emails look legit, even utilizing the SBA’s logo, so make sure that you look over the email and check the address before responding. If you’re still unsure, use the email address or phone number in this post or the contact information found on the SBA website to get in touch.
Do not send any personal information until you’ve verified that the person you are speaking to is actually an SBA representative. Some emails may be phishing attempts to get personal information about your business, including your bank account information.
Remember, you should only be utilizing the SBA website to check your EIDL application status. Avoid websites that request payment to expedite funding or give the status of your loan.
You can report any suspected fraud online or by phone.
FAQs About Checking Your EIDL Status
I don’t have an application number. Can I still check my status? If you applied through the COVID-19 portal, you will have to wait until the SBA contacts you regarding your loan status, even if you have an application number. Some applicants haven’t received an email or phone call from the SBA but did receive a deposit in their bank account from the SBA with an attached application number. If you applied for an EIDL outside of the COVID-19 portal, you can call the SBA’s toll-free number to inquire about the status of your loan.
I’ve tried contacting the SBA but haven’t heard anything. What do I do now? Unfortunately, many small business owners are finding it difficult to find out the status of their loans and have experienced delays in receiving their funds. The bad news is that borrowers that applied through the COVID-19 portal may not receive an update for several days or even weeks. Remember, many small business owners are seeking financial relief. Combine this with hiccups in such a new program, and it’s easy to see why there are delayed responses. Though it can be a pain, simply wait until you receive further instructions or communications from the SBA. This may even be in the form of a deposit to your bank account. Hopefully, more information will become available in the near future to provide further guidance for borrowers.
The SBA pulled my credit. Does that mean I’m going to be getting a loan soon? When checking your credit history, you may notice that the SBA has pulled your credit. While some borrowers have reported receiving funds a few days after their credit was pulled, others were still waiting on their funds despite their credit being pulled. In other words, this shouldn’t be used to gauge whether or not your loan was approved or will soon be funded. Again, wait for communications from the SBA, and don’t forget to check your business bank account.
Be Persistent & Good Luck
Whether it’s been days since the status on the loan portal has updated or you’ve been put on hold when you call, getting the status of your EIDL loan and advance can be frustrating. Delays in processing loans — and other business owners seeking answers — have made things a bit chaotic for the time being. Just remain persistent and you’ll be successful in getting a status update.
If one method doesn’t work for you, try another. Make sure to have any additional questions ready if you call or email so you can get the answers you need more efficiently. And if your status remains unchanged today, try again tomorrow.