What is a Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan?
Short answer
It is an SBA disaster loan of up to $2 million for a business whose essential employee is called to active duty. It covers ordinary operating expenses (sba.gov/disaster, read November 8, 2026).
A Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan, or MREIDL, helps a small business when an essential employee is called to active military duty. It covers ordinary and necessary operating expenses (sba.gov/disaster, read November 8, 2026).
Key terms
- Maximum: $2 million. SBA can waive that limit if your business is a major source of employment.
- Amount: limited to actual economic injury as SBA calculates it, taking account of insurance and available funds.
- Maturity: up to 30 years, depending on ability to repay.
- First payment: deferred for 12 months, with no interest accruing during that time.
When to apply
The filing period begins when the essential employee receives notice of expected call-up. It ends one year after the employee is discharged or released from active duty.
Limits on use
Proceeds can cover ordinary and necessary operating expenses. They may not cover lost income or lost profits, replace regular commercial debt, refinance long-term debt or expand the business.
Eligibility and collateral
Businesses able to fund their own recovery are not eligible. SBA must first determine whether credit is available from non-government sources without undue hardship. CollateralProperty a lender can take and sell if a loan is not repaid. is required on loans over $50,000. SBA will not decline for lack of collateral, but you must pledge what is available.
Confirm the current interest rate with SBA at sba.gov/disaster.
Ask lending partners about your loan
Tell us the amount you need and what it is for. We refer you to lenders that may fund businesses like yours, and it costs you nothing.
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