expand the circumstances that qualify for IRS-sanctioned, penalty-free hardship withdrawals from IRA & 401k plans

This petition addresses the expansion of the IRS definition of conditions which allow the owners of IRA's and 401K plans to take premature distributions from said account(s) to pay for living expenses, without the 10% penalty tax while under protracted periods of unemployment. Under current IRS language, only 'permanent, till end of life' disabilities allow for premature distributions of qualified retirement account monies without penalty. Protracted unemployment or underemployment has become a concern for millions, particularly older working age Americans. Due to this recent quality of life issue, and its expansion and widening demographic, we ask the IRS code be modified in this area so as to allow previously earned monies to be taxed without penalty.