401k Layoff Trap

Home Money IRAs and Retirement Plans 401(k) Loans 401k Layoff Trap

I was surprised at the "Borrow from your 401k" suggestion. While it's true that it's better than cashing out, so many people are being laid off unexpectedly. When this happens, it must all be paid back or considered a cash-out, which comes at a time when people are least able to repay because they just lost their job. It should at least have been mentioned as a consideration.
Deborah in San Diego

Deborah makes a very interesting point. She's referring to an article entitled Need Cash that discusses 10 ways to raise cash quickly if you're in a jam.

How widespread is the problem? It's hard to find many statistics on 401k loans. But a Harvard report cites two statistics that point to trouble. The vast majority of plans allow for borrowing (over 85% in 2005, Investment Company Institute, 2006). And they also report that 18% of 401(k) participants had a 401(k) loan in 2006.

We can't know for sure, but it's probably not an unreasonable guess that about one in five or six people who are laid off will have a 401k loan outstanding when they get the pink slip.

And, that's when Deborah's problem comes in. As a general rule, if you leave your employer, you need to repay the 401k loan in full. You may be given a month or so, but that's it.

Any amounts that you fail to repay are treated like a withdrawal. That means that you add the amount of the loan to your income and you'll pay normal income taxes on it. Plus, you'll be liable for a penalty that equals 10% of the unpaid loan.

What can you do about it? First, if you have a 401k loan and think that you could lose your job, you need to take it seriously. Begin by estimating how much the taxes and penalties would cost you if you didn't repay part or all of the loan. It'll be bad. But since your income will be lower than previous years (because of the layoff), your tax rate should drop (that assumes no tax rate hikes).

In any event, you need to have some idea of how much the penalties and taxes are. You'll want to compare that to the cost of other alternatives.

There are a couple of withdrawal exceptions that might help in a layoff situation:

• You were age 55 or over and you retired or left your job
• You paid for medical expenses exceeding 7.5% of your adjusted gross income

What if you don't fit into one of those categories? Your options are limited, but you still have some choices to make.

Now might be the time to consider selling a car. Your ride needs to be worth more than any loans on it. Any cash you raise could help pay off the 401k loan. If you're not working, transportation won't be such a big issue. You can always buy another car when you're employed again.

Do you have a homeowner's line of credit or enough equity to refinance your home? That could provide some money to repay the 401k loan. Refinancing will be easier before you lose your job. So you might want to consider this if you expect to be laid off.

Using your credit card to pay off the 401k loan is a high-risk strategy. You'll probably pay a higher interest rate. And, you'll also need to keep making payments even if your income has dried up. Plus, you'll be consuming part of your credit line that you may need later.

The only advantage to shifting the debt to a credit card is that you avoid the tax problems of a 401k withdrawal. But it's wise to compare the numbers before you make a decision.

The unfortunate fact is that most 401k loans were promoted as an painless way to "borrow from yourself." Turns out that's not so true if times get tough.

Gary Foreman is a former financial planner and purchasing manager who currently edits The Dollar Stretcher.com website and newsletters. He's been featured in MSN Money, Yahoo Finance, Fox Business, The Nightly Business Report and he's a regular contributor to US News Money and CreditCards.com. You can follow Gary on Twitter or visit Gary Foreman on Google+.

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