@$ID/NormalParagraphStyle:SBA: disaster loan made easier

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Small Business Administration has made revisions to its electronic loan application, significantly reducing the number of screens an applicant must read while filling out the form.

The new online application is easier to read, and users will spend less time filling out the form.

The original electronic loan application — launched in 2008 — guided applicants through a series of 80 screens, based on responses to questions aimed at determining eligibility. Now, applicants for disaster assistance can fill out a form on SBA’s secure website that looks exactly like the paper application, four pages for home loans, and three pages for business loans.

Homeowners, renters, businesses and non-profits applying for disaster loans to cover losses to real estate and property, as well as economic injury, can access the form at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

Questions about the electronic loan application can be directed to SBA’s Disaster Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, or by email at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.