Answer

Here are the rules on 401K hardship withdrawals. If your medical expenses qualify under the rule shown below, there will be no penalty. As it is your husband, not you, who is disabled, that penalty exception doesn't apply to your withdrawal. That seems wrong, but it is a literal reading of the rules.

Two types of hardship withdrawals are permitted from 401k plans. One is called a financial hardship withdrawal. It is subject to applicable income taxes and a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty if you are younger than 59 1/2. These costs are significant.

The other is a penalty-free withdrawal made under Section 72(t) of the Internal Revenue Code. With this, you pay applicable income taxes but not an early withdrawal penalty.

Financial hardship withdrawals are allowed for the following reasons:

    * to buy a primary residence (the most common reason folks take hardship withdrawals according to the Investment Company Institute)
    * to prevent foreclosure or eviction from your home
    * to pay college tuition for yourself or a dependent, provided the tuition is due within the next 12 months
    * to pay unreimbursed medical expenses for you or your dependents

You may qualify to take a penalty-free withdrawal if you meet one of the following exceptions:

    * You become totally disabled.
    * You are in debt for medical expenses that exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income.
    * You are required by court order to give the money to your divorced spouse, a child, or a dependent.
    * You are separated from service (through permanent layoff, termination, quitting or taking early retirement) in the year you turn 55, or later.
    * You are separated from service and you have set up a payment schedule to withdraw money in substantially equal amounts over the course of your life expectancy. (Once you begin taking this kind of distribution you are required to continue for five years or until you reach age 59 1/2, whichever is longer.)

Employers are not required to offer either type of hardship withdrawal, so you should check with your employer to see which type, if any, is available to you.

Once you take the money out, you can't put it back in. You lose for life the tax advantage for the withdrawn funds.

Non-Hardship Withdrawals

Not every plan allows non-hardship withdrawals. If yours does, you have an opportunity to take money out of your account and redistribute it as you see fit.

Generally the best bet is to roll the amount into n IRA. That way you avoid taxes, and you have a larger range of investment options, usually with lower administrative fees. Rollovers made directly to the owner of the 401(k) must be
reinvested in a qualified plan within 60 days or be faced with a 10% penalty.

Source: 401khelpcenter.com

Expert:	The Land Advisor
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Answered:	4/16/2007

Experienced Land Investor

Retired successful "land baron", financier and investor.