SBA disaster loans

Physical damage and economic injury

Businesses of any size and most private nonprofits may qualify for physical-damage loans for uninsured disaster losses. Eligible repairs or replacements include real estate, equipment, machinery, fixtures, inventory and leasehold improvements. Expansion or upgrades are generally excluded except building-code requirements and eligible mitigation. SBA: disaster recovery. Last checked Oct 25, 2026.

Disaster EIDL serves eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, aquaculture businesses and most private nonprofits with substantial economic injury in a declared area. SBA must determine that credit is unavailable elsewhere. Physical damage is not required; a decline in sales or lost expected profits alone does not establish economic injury. SBA: disaster recovery. Last checked Oct 25, 2026.

What EIDL can pay for

EIDL can pay working capital and ordinary expenses such as rent, utilities and fixed-debt payments. It cannot pay for expansion, fixed-asset purchases, physical-damage repairs, debt refinancing, dividends, bonuses or repayment of loans to owners. SBA: disaster recovery. Last checked Oct 25, 2026.

Maximum rates, repayment and fees

For business physical-damage loans, the interest-rate ceiling is 4% when credit is unavailable elsewhere and 8% when credit is available elsewhere. Disaster EIDL has a 4% ceiling. These are program maximums; check the specific declaration and SBA offer for your rate. SBA: disaster recovery. Last checked Oct 25, 2026.

SBA lists terms up to 30 years, determined by repayment ability, for business physical-damage loans and EIDL. The first payment is deferred for 12 months with no interest accruing during that period. SBA lists no prepayment penalty or fees for these loans. SBA: disaster recovery. Last checked Oct 25, 2026.

Check your declaration and apply

Begin by checking your declaration and applying through the official SBA disaster portal. SBA requires IRS Form 4506-C with each disaster application to authorize release of tax information, including when the applicant is not required to file a federal tax return. Follow the application’s requests for additional records. SBA: disaster recovery; SBA: disaster application tax authorization. Last checked Oct 25, 2026.

SBA’s business disaster application lists a signed Form 5, tax-transcript authorization, the business’s most recent federal tax return with schedules (or an explanation if unavailable), personal financial statements for the required owners or managers, and a schedule of fixed debts. Form 413 supplies the personal financial statement; Form 2202 can supply the debt schedule. SBA may request additional financial records. SBA: disaster business application (PDF). Last checked Oct 25, 2026.

For nonprofit disaster applicants, Form 5 lists the signed application, tax-transcript authorization, a fixed-debt schedule, and either the latest tax return or IRS tax-exempt certification plus the three most recent years of Statements of Activities. Follow SBA’s current application instructions for the organization and its affiliates. SBA: disaster business application (PDF). Last checked Oct 25, 2026.

• Check declarations and apply through SBA

Homeowners and renters

SBA disaster loans also cover eligible homeowners and renters. Homeowners can seek up to $500,000 for their primary residence; homeowners and renters can seek up to $100,000 for damaged personal property. These are separate applicant categories from business loans. SBA: disaster recovery. Last checked Oct 25, 2026.

Questions about SBA disaster loans

Official SBA help

SBA’s Lender Match is a free online tool for connecting small businesses with prospective lenders. SBA: Lender Match instructions (PDF). Last checked Oct 25, 2026.

SBA district offices and resource partners help with business planning and applications. The local-assistance directory includes Small Business Development Centers, SCORE, Women’s Business Centers and Veterans Business Outreach Centers, with free or low-cost counseling and training. SBA: local assistance; SBA: 7(a) loans. Last checked Oct 25, 2026.

Each fact links to the official source checked on the date shown. Confirm the requirements and costs for your application with SBA or the participating lender.