No early withdrawal penalties. To apply for a hardship withdrawal, call 844-523-2457 or log into your DCP account at LA457.To initiate a hardship withdrawal, participants complete a Hardship Distribution Request form and submit to Empower. If you have any questions about completing this form, or about applying for a withdrawal on your own behalf, please contact Carolina Lopez at (510) 464-6208. Ordinary income tax will apply to each distribution. A hardship distribution is a withdrawal from a participant's elective deferral account made because of an immediate and heavy financial need. Missing Participants Program PBGC has a program called the Missing Participants Program, which connects people to their retirement benefit. The withdrawals are also subject to state income tax.