We should not have to pay a penalty to use our own IRA funds if we are either unemployed for at least 6 months of have taken a decrease in pay of 30% or more!
We have worked hard to save money for our future and we should not have to add insult-to-injury and pay the government penalties to use our own money to live on.
These desperate economic times call for desperate measures. Living on our saved IRA funds is a desperate move and the government could help by suspending the penalties for monies withdrawn during loss of wages.
It will save the government in the end by giving us citizens more money to stay afloat without having to apply for government programs for assistance.
Again, it is the middle class that has been trying to do the right thing that are not getting any help...