The post below is based on my latest YouTube Update:
Hey folks, Jason here — founder of Distressed Loan Advisors. If you’re looking for help with your SBA loan, you can book a call with me, or just Google “Jason SBA help” and I’ll pop right up.
Today’s EIDL update isn’t earth-shattering, but it’s worth paying attention to — especially if you’re one of the many small business owners still in limbo. Thanks to one of my YouTube followers (whose name I won’t share since I don’t have permission), I’ve got some new intel straight from the front lines of SBA chaos.
No More Live Help at the SBA
Here’s what she found out: if you try to call the SBA about your EIDL loan, you’re not getting a human. As of now, there’s no live phone support. You’ll have to email or send a message through the SBA portal. And brace yourself — they have up to 10 business days to respond.
So, if your situation is urgent… good luck. You’ll need to plan accordingly, because quick answers are off the table.
Fort Worth EIDL Servicing Center Employees — Gone
It gets worse. According to this borrower, she eventually got through to a receptionist who told her that as of May 5th, all employees in the Fort Worth, Texas EIDL servicing center are no longer employed by the SBA.
Yes, you read that right.
That’s the office responsible for handling inquiries, servicing accounts, and managing what is already a hot mess of a loan program. Now they’re doing it with even fewer people. That doesn’t bode well for anyone trying to navigate their way through payment issues or default.
I Spoke with the New York Times
Just yesterday, I spoke with a reporter from the New York Times who’s working on a piece about the current state of EIDL loans. I shared this same update with her, but I also emphasized a much bigger issue:
- There is no longer a hardship accommodation for EIDL loans.
- There are no offers in compromise being approved — even though borrowers are still receiving the paperwork.
- There’s no political will to help honest borrowers. All the noise from politicians is about fraud, but nobody is talking about the massive number of struggling borrowers who aren’t scammers — they’re just broke.
It’s incredibly frustrating, especially since settling these debts would make a lot of sense. Many borrowers simply can’t afford repayment. And the government’s main tool — the Treasury Offset Program — is barely making a dent for most people. If the SBA isn’t going to sue and the Treasury isn’t going to recover much, why not settle?
Where’s the Will to Fix This?
The sad truth is: journalists seem interested. Politicians? Not so much. There’s no urgency, no meaningful action, and no clear path forward for borrowers stuck in this mess.
If the Times article can move the needle, great — but I’m not holding my breath. At this point, hope is in short supply.
Offers in Compromise: Still a Unicorn
If you or anyone you know has actually had an offer in compromise approved for an EIDL loan, please let me know. I’ve been asking for over a year, and so far, crickets.
Yes, the SBA sends out the forms. But to my knowledge, not a single one has been approved. If you want to try anyway — and be a guinea pig — I’m happy to help. Just know that I’ll be brutally honest about the odds.
I had a guy this morning tell me, “I understand what you’re saying and still want to try.” Fair enough — I’ll do my best for him. But until I see an approval in the wild, I’m going to continue warning people that it’s likely a dead end.
I’m not in the business of false hope or easy money. I’m too old, too gray, and too experienced to chase unicorns unless the client understands exactly what they’re getting into.
Final Thoughts
That’s the update for now. If anything else comes out of the staffing shake-up in Fort Worth — good, bad, or indifferent — I’ll keep you posted.
In the meantime, if you’re confused, frustrated, or just want someone to explain the fine print, I’m available to chat. Thanks for checking in.
