(a) A member is eligible to elect distribution of the member's account in accordance with this section 60 days after termination of employment.

(b) Notwithstanding (a) of this section, distribution of all or a portion of the individual account of a member may take place before the 60th day after the termination of employment with the approval of the administrator if the member makes a written request for a distribution under this subsection. The member's spouse must consent to the request in writing if the member is married. Distribution of an individual account may only be made on account of an immediate and heavy financial need of the member for the following reasons and in the amount the need is demonstrated for

(1) medical care described in 26 U.S.C. 213(d) incurred by the member, the member's spouse, or the member's dependent, or necessary to obtain that medical care;

(2) the purchase of a principal residence for the member;

(3) postsecondary education tuition and related educational fees for the next 12-month period for the member, the member's spouse, or a dependent of the member; in this paragraph, “dependent” has the meaning given in 26 U.S.C. 152;

(4) prevention of the eviction of the member from the member's principal residence or foreclosure on the mortgage of the member's principal residence; or

(5) any need prescribed by the United States Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, in a revenue ruling, notice, or other document of general applicability that satisfies the safe harbor definition of hardship under regulations adopted under 26 U.S.C. 401(k).

(c) If a member dies before benefits commence, the member's beneficiary is immediately eligible to elect distribution of the member's share of the member's individual account.

(d) Distributions are payable to an alternate payee in accordance with the terms and conditions of a qualified domestic relations order that is received and approved by the administrator as specified in AS 39.35.860.

(e) Distributions that are being paid to a member may not be affected by the member's subsequent reemployment with the employer. Upon reemployment, a new individual account shall be established for the member to which any future contributions shall be allocated. Upon subsequent termination of employment, the member's new individual account shall be distributed in accordance with this section.