Illinois Residents Just Got $22 Million in Unclaimed Property Back in January

Illinois residents set a new record for getting unclaimed property this year, with over 38,000 claims in a single week.

Historic Surge in Claims Following Media Blitz

According to a press release from the Office of the Illinois State Treasurer, On February 1, National Unclaimed Property Day got a huge boost from a media blitz in January helping return $22 million to nearly 19,000 people.

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Every year, banks, businesses, and insurance companies transfer unclaimed money to the state of Illinois after it goes uncollected for an extended period.

This includes forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, unpaid life insurance benefits, and the contents of abandoned safe deposit boxes.

How the I-Cash Program Works

The Illinois Treasurer's Office is responsible for keeping these assets safe until they can be returned to their rightful owners, no matter how much time has passed.

We saw an overwhelming response, which shows just how many people have missing money they didn’t even realize was theirs. Getting these funds back into the hands of the rightful owners helps individuals and boosts the state’s economy. -Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs

The I-Cash website is available in both English and Spanish, allowing residents to easily search for unclaimed property.

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The site now features a "share" button, making it easier to notify family members and friends of unclaimed property if you see their name appear in the state's database.

The State of Illinois also introduced the Enhanced Money Match program, which allows for the automatic return of money to individuals without requiring them to file a claim.

Don't Wait! Check for Unclaimed Money Now

Illinois Treasurer Frerichs encourages residents to check the I-Cash website regularly. "You don't have to wait for National Unclaimed Property Day to search for your name," he said. "It's worth taking a few minutes to see if you or someone you know has money waiting to be claimed.

Nearly $3 Billion in unclaimed property is still waiting to be reunited with its rightful owners.

To check the database, CLICK HERE to begin searching names.