Financial Hardship

A “financial hardship” is when you have an immediate and significant financial need involving:

• Medical expenses for you or your dependents;
• Costs related to the purchase of your primary residence;
• Tuition and related post-secondary educational costs; or
• An imminent eviction from your primary residence.

If you have a financial hardship that cannot be satisfied by other financial resources, you may obtain from Empower Retirement or the CERF Office a 401(a) Hardship Withdrawal Request. It must be reviewed and approved by Empower Retirement and CERF before a distribution is made.

The amount that you may request from your 401(a) account cannot exceed the amount necessary to meet the need, and any amount that you have already withdrawn for a “financial emergency” from your CERF 457 account will be deducted from the amount you can withdraw to meet a financial hardship.

To apply for an emergency withdrawal, you must complete and submit the Hardship Withdrawal Request to CERF at 2121 Schotthill woods Dr, Jefferson City, MO 65101.