Article by Emily Rella During a time when so many small businesses were struggling and and trying to survive amid the pandemic, many applied for PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) government loans as a way to continue to pay their employees. The PPP, which was intended to be used by small businesses of under 500 employees, was classified as an “emergency disaster loan program” and allowed businesses to apply for loans up to 2.5 times their average monthly payroll in 2019. For some, PPP loans were the difference between employees being able to put food on the table for their families or not, and though they helped tremendously, they still couldn’t make up for all of the revenue and pay that was lost during the past year. Independent contractors and other self-employed Americans were also eligible for the loans. Related: How to Obtain an SBA Coronavirus PPP Loan and Have It Forgiven Unsurprisingly, many people found loopholes and ways …