Fidelity: Struggling workers increasingly tapping 401(k) accounts for needed cash

Fidelity: 401(k) hardship withdrawals, loans up

In the wake of news about a spike in new applications for unemployment benefits comes another potentially troubling sign: A record number of workers made hardship withdrawals from their retirement accounts in the second quarter.

What’s more, the number of workers borrowing from their accounts reached a 10-year high, according to a report issued Friday by Fidelity Investments.

The trends reflect the financial stress many workers find themselves in as the economy struggles to find sure footing, said Beth McHugh, Fidelity’s vice president of marketing insight.

High unemployment and companies cutting back on overtime or overall hours have reduced the take-home pay of many workers.

“People tend to be taking home less,” she said. “As a result the percentage of individuals initiating hardship distributions is one of the things we’re concerned about.”

Fidelity administers 17,000 plans, which represents 11 million participants. In the second quarter, some 62,000 workers initiated a hardship withdrawal. That’s compared with 45,000 in the same period a year ago.

What’s also eye-opening is that 45 percent of participants who took a hardship withdrawal a year ago, took another one this year, McHugh said.

To be eligible for a 401(k) hardship withdrawal, individuals must demonstrate an immediate and heavy financial need, according to IRS regulations. Certain medical expenses; costs relating to the purchase of a primary home; tuition and education expenses; payments to prevent eviction or foreclosure on a primary home; burial or funeral expenses; and repair of damage to a primary home meet the IRS definition and are permitted by most 401(k) plans.

A key concern is that these withdrawals are just that, they are not loans. As a result there can be a significant impact on someone’s overall retirement savings. If the worker is younger than 59½, they’ll pay a 10 percent penalty for early withdrawal in addition to taxes.

The average age of the workers taking hardship withdrawals is between 35 and 55, their peak earning years. It’s also often a time when competing financial challenges emerge, McHugh said.

In addition to those taking hardship withdrawals, Fidelity said it’s seen the number of workers taking 401(k) loans over the past year grow to 11 percent of total active plan participants from about 9 percent one year prior.

The portion of accountholders with a loan outstanding increased two full percentage points in the second quarter to about 22 percent. That figure is the highest in a decade, McHugh said.

The average initial loan amount as of the end of the second quarter was $8,650, which was typically to be repaid in 3½ years.

The good news in the report was that the average 401(k) account balance as of the end of the second quarter was $61,800; up 15 percent from the same time last year, but down from the end of the first quarter of 2010.