IL Could Owe You Unclaimed Money, State Treasurer Says

ILLINOIS — The Illinois treasurer is urging residents to check the state’s I-CASH missing money website to see if they have funds or other property waiting to be claimed.

National Unclaimed Property Day is Feb. 1.

“In fact, it’s a good idea to check the website at least a couple of times a year to see if you, your family, or your friends have cash or property to claim,” Treasurer Michael Frerichs said in a news release Monday.

Unclaimed property typically refers to items such as uncashed rebate checks or vendor checks, unpaid life insurance claims, forgotten checking accounts and the contents of overlooked safe deposit boxes, according to the news release. When companies and banks can’t return such items to their rightful owners, by law they are turned over to the treasurer’s office.

The treasurer is legally required to return unclaimed property to its owners or their heirs, no matter how long it takes, the news release said.

Last year, Frerichs’ office returned nearly $299 million in missing money, processing 331,032 claims, with an average claim of $902.

To check the I-CASH website, visit https://icash.illinoistreasurer.gov/.