In the current economic climate, many 401(k) plan participants are looking at the funds in their retirement accounts and examining ways to distribute those funds to alleviate current financial difficulties. Generally, 401(k) plans are not allowed to make distributions to participants except in limited circumstances. As allowed under the applicable regulations, some 401(k) plan documents allow participants to tap into their retirement funds before retirement through “hardship distributions,” if their financial difficulties meet certain qualifications. If a 401(k) plan document does not currently allow for hardship distributions, the employer may amend the document to allow for such distributions.