Under the CARES Act passed on March 27, 2020, independent contractors, gig workers, and freelancers affected by the coronavirus crisis are eligible to receive a government grant of $1000. The SBA sometimes refers to these grants as “advances,” but you are not required to repay this money to the government.
The application process involves filling out a simple SBA form requesting an Economic Injury Disaster Recovery Loan (EIDL), which provides for the advance even if the loan is not granted.
Initially, $10 billion was allocated by the government for these grants, but due to the overwhelming amount of applications, the SBA suspended accepting new applications in mid-April 2020 due to lapse in appropriations for the grants.
But now the SBA is lifting the suspension because legislation passed on April 23, 2020, allocated another $60 billion for EIDL and grants thereunder.
Who Is Eligible for the Grants?
In addition to the entities that are already eligible for SBA disaster loans and grants, eligibility was expanded to include:
Sole proprietorships, with or without employees
Independent contractors
Freelancers
Gig workers
You must have been in business as of January 31, 2020. Expanded eligibility criteria and the grants are only available until December 31, 2020. But the SBA will quickly run out of money, so you should apply as soon as possible.
Where Do I Apply Online for the SBA Grant?
The application should be found at covid19relief.sba.gov/#/ (if for some reason it isn’t there, do a Google search on “SBA disaster loan application”). Background information from the SBA can be found at https://www.sba.gov/disaster-assistance/coronavirus-covid-19.
What Advice Is There for Completing the SBA Application?
If you are an independent contractor, freelancer, or gig worker, here are some tips on filling out the application:
On the first question, check the second box as you are applying as an independent contractor or sole proprietorship.
You must add your Social Security number if you are applying as an individual independent contractor, freelancer, or gig worker.
The form will ask you for the gross revenues for the last 12 months for your independent contractor business and the “cost of goods sold.” You can estimate this based on what happened in 2019. Cost of goods sold means the expenses incurred in the process of providing your product or service as a freelancer, gig worker, or independent contractor.
Where it asks for “Owner” put your name and “100” percent owner.
It will ask for the date the business was established. This is the date you started doing freelance, gig work, or independent contractor work. Just estimate if you don’t have the exact date, but make sure it was before January 31, 2020.
The form will ask for the bank account to which you want the grant money direct deposited. You need the name of your bank, the account number (the middle number at the bottom of your checks), and the routing number (the number at the bottom left of your checks). See the question below on direct depositing.
For your business phone number, it’s okay to give your cell number.
“Is your business owned by a business entity?” The answer is no since you are an individual owner.
When the form asks for your business name, just enter your individual name if you don’t have a business name.
You can ignore the question “If anyone assisted you in completing this application …” unless you have in fact gotten help.
Make sure to check the box that says you want to apply for the $10,000 grant (although it will only be $1,000 for independent contractors, freelancers, and gig workers).
The form should take about 15 minutes to fill out. After it is completed and submitted, the SBA will give you a confirmation number, so keep a copy of that for any follow-up.
How Can I Make Sure I Provide My Correct Direct Deposit Information to the SBA?
Direct deposit information is as follows:
The name of your bank
Your bank account number, which can be up to 17 characters. On the sample check below, the account number is 2020202086.
The “routing number” for your bank, which must contain 9 digits. On the sample check below, the routing number is 250250025.
Don’t include the check number (1234 on the image below).
Double-check that you have provided the correct numbers.
How Long Will It Take to Actually Get the Grant Money from the SBA?
The first grants took over a month to be issued. Hopefully newer grants will be quicker.
Apparently, the SBA will directly deposit the grant money into your bank account without notifying you that it is on the way or that it has been deposited. So check your bank account regularly.
Do I Need to Accept an Economic Injury Loan in Order to Get the Grant?
No. You can decide just to accept the grant you receive and do not have to accept an Economic Injury Disaster Loan.
Do I Have to Pay Back the Grant?
No. It’s clear under the CARES Act that this is a grant that does not need to be repaid. No interest payment is required either.
How Can You Contact the SBA to Follow Up on Your Grant Application?
It has been difficult to get the SBA to respond to inquiries. The SBA website sets forth these means of contact:
Phone: SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955
Email: disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
If you can’t get through to the SBA, try contacting the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in your area. For example, the Northern California SBDC has been extremely helpful, and you can actually talk to a person live. (See www.asksbdc.com or call 833-ASK-SBDC.) Advisors can help you with both the PPP loan process and the EIDL loans/grants as well as special programs in your state.
Related Articles:
Financial Help for Freelancers and Independent Contractors Affected by the Coronavirus Crisis
Where’s the Money? The Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions About CARES Act Loans
Small Business Relief: COVID-19 Resources for Startups
Newly Available CARES Act Loans: 10 Things Small Businesses Need to Know
Copyright © by Richard D. Harroch. All Rights Reserved
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