Covid warning: Extended lockdown could push KiwiSaver hardship claims higher 16 Feb, 2021 04:32 AM 5 minutes to read KiwiSaver hardship claims have risen over the last year. Photo / File The number of Kiwis tapping into their retirement savings due to financial hardship continues to rise and experts say the latest lockdown could spur more claims if it drags on longer than three days. Inland Revenue figures show that in December last year 2526 people withdrew money from KiwiSaver accounts due to financial hardship, taking out $16.4 million. Read More That was a significant jump on a year earlier when 2000 took $11.6m out in December 2019. Statistics show the number of people taking money out of KiwiSaver for hardship rose steadily over 2020 despite the amount of economic stimulus being pumped into the economy and employment levels staying strong.