# American freelancers and small business owners--PPP application deadline extended to Aug. 8. I got a PPP. Ask me anything

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-freelancers-and-small-business-owners-ppp-application-deadline-extended-to-aug-8-i-got-a-ppp-ask-me-anything/914740>\
**Category:** The Quarantine Zone\
**Tags:** covid-quarantine\
**Created:** [July 8, 2020, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-freelancers-and-small-business-owners-ppp-application-deadline-extended-to-aug-8-i-got-a-ppp-ask-me-anything/914740 "2020-07-08T14:21:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2020, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-freelancers-and-small-business-owners-ppp-application-deadline-extended-to-aug-8-i-got-a-ppp-ask-me-anything/914740/1 "2020-07-08T14:21:33Z")

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If you had trouble applying for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, missed the deadline, or got rejected the first time around, try again. [The deadline’s been extended to August 8.](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/smallbusiness/the-ppp-is-now-extended-through-august-8/ar-BB16fXzU)

The PPP is called a loan, but it’s forgivable. Many people who get PPP money aren’t going to pay back a cent. People who do pay back part or all of their loans pay only 1% interest. If you haven’t applied because you’re afraid of debt and interest payments, you might want to reconsider.

A lot of people think they’re ineligible because they’re not US citizens, their accounting is unorthodox, their spouse is drawing the additional unemployment benefits, etc. That might be worth revisiting. I strongly suspect that a lot of people who could, in fact, get PPP money think they’re ineligible.

I’m not an expert on the PPP, but I’d like to help you however I can. I managed to get one of those loans, and the money was a lifesaver for me. I had help from others and want to pay that forward, so AMA.

Here’s an [intro to the PPP program](https://www.investopedia.com/your-guide-to-the-paycheck-protection-program-ppp-and-how-to-apply-4802195): what it is, how much money you might get, and how the PPP works.

Here’s [the Small Business Administration (SBA) guide](https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program) to the PPP program. They have a helpful FAQ.

Here’s an [intro to the PPP for the self-employed.](https://gusto.com/blog/business-finance/self-employed-ppp-loans-and-forgiveness)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2020, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-freelancers-and-small-business-owners-ppp-application-deadline-extended-to-aug-8-i-got-a-ppp-ask-me-anything/914740/2 "2020-07-08T14:45:42Z")

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Argh. I waited too long to edit my post, so I’m putting some of what I missed in this reply.

There were two subreddits that were helpful throughout the process: [r/smallbusiness](https://www.reddit.com/r/smallbusiness/) and [r/EIDPLPPP](https://www.reddit.com/r/EIDLPPP/).

Anyway–AMA. I’ll answer as many questions as I can. If I don’t know the answer to a question, I’ll do my best to suggest another source of info.