US federal officials have begun holding small businesses and nonprofits accountable for the roughly one million delinquent government loans that were handed out during the pandemic — and which carry a face value of as much as $20 billion. The SBA this week began referring neglected COVID disaster loans with balances of $100,000 or less to the Treasury Department for collection. Another 10,000 delinquent COVID loans involving larger sums have already been sent to the Treasury. In some cases, it can even seize government benefits and tax refunds. COVID loans of $200,000 or more carry a personal guarantee, which requires borrowers to use personal assets to satisfy their debts. “I’m talking to dozens of people every week who are dealing with the SBA’s struggle to service these things,"" says Jason Milleisen, who advises distressed SBA borrowers. “People are superconfused,” he added, noting that borrowers often receive conflicting information from different SBA employees.