Access retirement funds in a disaster

Travis Tandy

January 13, 2025

Access retirement funds in a disaster

The SECURE 2.0 Act makes it easier for qualified individuals impacted by a federally declared major disaster to access their retirement savings.

Eligibility

A taxpayer may be eligible for relief that provides for expanded access to their retirement funds if their principal residence was in a major disaster area and they sustained an economic loss due to that disaster. An economic loss includes, but is not limited to:

  • Being displaced from the taxpayer’s principal residence.

  • Loss or damage to or destruction of real or personal property from fire, flooding, looting, vandalism, theft, wind, or other cause.

  • Lost income due to temporary or permanent layoff.

Use the tool on FEMA.gov/Disaster to find a current list of major disaster declarations.

Types of relief

These types of disaster relief are available to people who qualify:

  • May withdraw up to $22,000 from an IRA or other eligible retirement plan.

    • Amount exempt from the 10% early distribution tax.

    • May repay to a retirement plan or IRA within three years of the distribution.

    • Distribution may be included equally in income over three years.

  • A retirement plan may offer increased loan limits and delay repayments.

The IRS is here to help

For questions and assistance, call the IRS disaster hotline at 866-562-5227.

More information

<All Posts