Can my ex employer take all in my 401?

Question

Can my ex employer take all in my 401?

Answer 1

You contributions are always yours.  Employer matches generally have a vesting schedule.  Or is this a case where you owed the employer money?

Answer 2

no way, speak to the citizens advice

Answer 3

Never.  If you only worked there a short time and were not fully "vested", then they can take back whatever THEIR contributions were, but they are never allowed to touch the money YOU contributed.

Answer 4

no way

Answer 5

If your ex employer made all the contributions and you were not vested, then yes, that's possible.

Any contributions made by you still belong to you.

Answer 6

Your employer can't take ANY of your contributions to a 401(k).  If the contributions were made by the employer, the answer depends on the 'vesting schedule'.  You 'earn' the contributions by remaining an employee for a predetermined amount of time.

Answer 7

It depends on if you were vested at 100%. If you were only there a short period of time most employers have guidelines before they allow you to take the money they have put into your 401K.

Don't forget if you take the money out -without transferring - you are subject to tax penalties.