U.S. Government pandemic assistance has ended. This article will be available for informational purposes, but content is no longer relevant.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people in many ways, including economically. The U.S. federal government has taken steps to provide economic relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the toll it has taken on the economy.
Payment Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)
Some small businesses that use Upwork as clients or freelancers may be eligible for a Payment Protection Program (PPP) loan or an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). Freelancers may be eligible for loans under both the PPP and EIDL program as sole proprietors even if they do not have a formal legal entity.
The PPP provides small loans to small businesses in order to continue to pay their payrolled employees, independent contractors, mortgage, rent or utilities. PPP loans will be forgiven if used for an authorized purpose under the terms of the loan.
The EIDL program provides loans of up to $10,000 to small businesses who are facing decreased revenue due to COVID-19.
Upwork will provide any documentation we can in order to support your application, if you choose to make one. For complete details, see the Small Business Administration’s information on PPP and information on EIDL.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ended on May 31, 2021. Existing borrowers may be eligible for PPP loan forgiveness.
The U.S. federal government has taken steps to provide economic relief in response to the growing COVID-19 pandemic and the toll it has taken on the workforce. Some small businesses that use Upwork as clients or freelancers may be eligible for a loan under the Payment Protection Program (PPP) or Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The PPP provides small loans to small businesses in order to continue to pay their payrolled employees, independent contractors, mortgages, rents, or utilities. PPP loans will be forgiven if used for an authorized purpose under the terms of the loan. The EIDL program provides loans of up to $10,000 to small businesses who are facing decreased revenue due to COVID-19.
We know how difficult it can be if you’ve lost work due to the pandemic. If you choose to apply for PPP or EIDL funds, we will provide any documentation we can in order to support your application. For complete details, see the Small Business Administration’s information on PPP and information on EIDL, or reach out to your own advisors.
PPP, EIDL, and PUA are all U.S.-only programs. If you need any assistance with documentation for local programs in another country, please let us know and we will be happy to help.
