Access to retirement funds denied!

Nobody wants to make an effort to assist. I need to access my retirement annuity early. I was retrenched in 2020, and have been unable to find work. I have gone online, emailed, visited a branch twice. All giving the same response, that I cannot access until 55. I am now 50. They can't even tell me that the annuity can be transferred to a preservation fund. I am beyond desperate. Surely there has to be a way that Old Mutual can assist?! And yes I am aware of the tax implications. The government should be more than happy to allow ME access to MY funds that I have been paying over the past 28 years!!