--- title: Final Hardship Distributions Issued description: Review a list of the changes to how and when plan sponsors can distribute plan hardship distributions - Bellevue Audit Firm. image: https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/hubfs/Hardship.jpeg --- [![Sweeney Conrad](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/SweeneyConrad_August2022/images/Sweeney-Conrad-logo.jpg?width=542&height=166&name=Sweeney-Conrad-logo.jpg "Sweeney Conrad")](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/preview/) ![navigation menu](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/SweeneyConrad_August2022/images/hamburger-bars.png) - [What We Do](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/what-we-do) - [Tax Services](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/what-we-do/tax-services) - [Client Accounting Services](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/what-we-do/client-accounting-services) - [Advisory Services](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/what-we-do/advisory-services) - [How We Do It](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/how-we-do-it) - [Our Process](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/how-we-do-it/our-process) - 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These regulations respond to public comments that were made regarding earlier proposed regulations. Following is a summary of the most important aspects of the final regulations for employee benefit plan sponsors. **Six-month contribution suspension has been eliminated.** 401(k) and 401(b) plans can no longer impose a six-month suspension of contributions following hardship withdrawals. This provision is effective for hardship distributions that occur on or after January 1, 2020. **Plan loan requirement is eliminated.** Employees are no longer required to take out a plan loan before receiving a hardship distribution. This provision is effective for hardship distributions that occur on or after January 1, 2019. **“Facts and circumstances” analysis is eliminated.** An analysis to determine whether a hardship distribution is necessary to satisfy a financial need is no longer required. Instead, a general standard that relies on three objective criteria should be used. **Safe harbor events have changed.** The types of distributions due to an immediate and heavy financial need have been changed. The casualty loss definition has been revised, and a new FEMA disaster category has been added to reflect these changes. This revised list can be applied to hardship distributions that were made as far back as January 1, 2018. **Hardship distribution sources are expanded.** The sources available for hardship distributions are expanded for both 401(k) and 403(b) plans. They now include earnings on elective deferrals, Qualified Non-Elective Employer Contributions (QNECs), and Qualified Matching Contributions (QMACs). For 403(b) plans, earnings on QNECs and QMACs are only eligible for hardship distributions if they are not held in a custodial account.   ### RECENT POSTS ### POSTS BY TAG - [Tax (122)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/tag/tax) - [Audit & Assurance (74)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/tag/audit-and-assurance) - [Estate Planning (60)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/tag/estate-planning) - [News (30)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/tag/news) - [COVID-19 (26)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/tag/covid-19) - [Sweeney Conrad News (21)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/tag/sweeney-conrad-news) - [Retirement Reporter (17)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/tag/retirement-reporter) - [Sweeney Conrad Passion (16)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/tag/sweeney-conrad-passion) - [Sweeney Conrad People (16)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/tag/people) - [Employee Benefit Plans (15)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/tag/employee-benefit-plans) - [State and Local Tax (12)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/tag/state-and-local-tax) - [Sweeney Conrad Community (11)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/tag/sweeney-conrad-community) - [Advisory (6)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/tag/advisory) - [Business (6)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/tag/business) - [High Net Worth (6)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/tag/high-net-worth) - [Nonprofit Organizations & Private Foundations (6)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/tag/nonprofit-organizations-private-foundations) - [Sweeney Conrad People (4)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/tag/sweeney-conrad-people) - [CAAS (3)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/tag/caas) - [Insider (2)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/tag/insider) - [Real Estate & Construction (2)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/tag/real-estate-construction) - [Recruiting (2)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/tag/recruiting) - [Loca (1)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/tag/loca) - [Locally Owned (1)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/tag/locally-owned) - [Scams (1)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/tag/scams) - [Test (1)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/tag/test) See all ## Contact Us Feel free to [email](mailto:information@sweeneyconrad.com) us or call [425.629.1990](tel:425-629-1990) [Get in touch](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/preview/get-in-touch/contact-us/) - [What We Do](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/what-we-do) - [Tax Services](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/what-we-do/tax-services) - [Client Accounting Services](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/what-we-do/client-accounting-services) - [Advisory Services](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/what-we-do/advisory-services) - [How We Do It](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/how-we-do-it) - [Our Process](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/how-we-do-it/our-process) - [Industries we serve](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/how-we-do-it/industries) - [Culture & Community](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/how-we-do-it/culture-community) - [Giving Back](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/how-we-do-it/giving-back) - [Partnership Network](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/how-we-do-it/partnership) - [Who We Are](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/who-we-are) - [Our People](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/who-we-are/our-team) - [Mission & Values](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/who-we-are/mission-values) - [Our Passion](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/who-we-are/our-passion) - [40+ Year History](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/who-we-are/history) - [Careers at SC](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/careers) - [Benefits & Perks](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/careers/benefits-perks) - [Experienced Professionals](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/careers/experienced-professionals) - [SC Young Professionals](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/careers/sc-young-professionals) - [SC Summer Summit](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/careers/summer-summit) - [Job Opportunities](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/careers/job-opportunities) - [Get in Touch](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/get-in-touch) - [Contact Us](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/get-in-touch/contact-us/) - [Pay Online](https://www.quickfee.com/qsop?company=quickfeeus&creditor=SWEENEY) - [Client Login](https://sweeneyconrad.sharefile.com/) - [Our Insights](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/) - [Newsletter](https://share.hsforms.com/189SwWa83QWmQ98wj4A6liQ2bure) ![Sweeney Conrad](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/SweeneyConrad_August2022/images/logo.png?width=358&name=logo.png "Sweeney Conrad") 10210 NE Points Dr. Suite 300 Kirkland WA 98033 [425.629.1990](tel:425-629-1990) [information@sweeneyconrad.com](mailto:information@sweeneyconrad.com) Proud to be a Member [![Allinial Global](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/SweeneyConrad_August2022/images/MemberOfAllinial-Logo_CMYK-globe.png?width=75&height=166&name=MemberOfAllinial-Logo_CMYK-globe.png "Allinial Global")](https://www.allinialglobal.com) Sweeney Conrad is the brand name under which Sweeney Conrad CPA LLP and Sweeney Conrad Advisors LLC provide professional services. 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