Newsy Investigates: Bureaucratic Blunders Block Small Business Relief

Terri Senecal co-owns the Sacchetti Music shop in Huntingtown, Md.Like so many small business owners, she has struggled to stay open through the pandemic."It's been horrible," Senecal said. "I don't want to close the store and put 14 people on unemployment."In April, the U.S. Small Business Administration invited Senecal to apply for a new round of federal COVID aid, up to $10,000 she would not need to pay back.She went for it.Weeks later the SBA rejected her application with a weird explanation.The agency told her one reason she didnt qualify was she had failed to pay child support.Senecal said thats impossible.She said she has never owed child support and has never had any children. #California