Withdrawal of 403 (b) plan of limbo employee status.

[Guest HARDship]

In April of 2001 my status at work was changed from full time to part time on call. This was done for the companies protection as they had no reason to terminate me. I have not worked for them since April. It is now October. I have been attending school to change professions. Today I went to my personal investor (private investment plan and asked him to take over the hospitals retirement plan for me while putting aside an amount for accumulating bills. It is also necessary as the funds they choose have been doing poorly even before the terrible attack on September 11. I was told I could not do so without quitting my employment, claiming hardship or borrowing against it. I dont have much in there, but want to save what I have in addition to pay for further tuition costs. I also have a daughter in college who needs financial aid as well. It is very frustrating to realize that although I have not contributed to the 403 (B) since my "convenient" change in status in the spring, I cannot touch the money I have saved since my beginning employment in October of 1998. Even in a hardship case I was told I would pay a 20% penalty and not get ANY company matched contributions in either case. :mad: Something seems askew... IS THIS MY MONEY? I dont want to sit and watch it dwindle even further...

Any help would be appreciated.