SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Nearly 140,000 Illinoisans are due to receive checks from the state’s unclaimed property program.
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs said the state’s Enhanced Money Match Program cross-references with his office’s unclaimed property database to solve simple claims in which one person is owed cash. This round of checks excludes funds held jointly by multiple people, as well as shares of stocks and bonds, escrow accounts, and the contents of safe deposit boxes.
The majority of checks being sent out are for $50 to $100, Frerichs said, for a total of $13.2 million.
“Returning this money to its rightful owners will help make life a little bit easier for people,” Frerichs said. “At a time when we are all dealing with higher prices, it can pay for a couple bags of groceries or maybe a fill-up or two at the pump.”
Residents on the list will receive a letter describing the amount and source of the unclaimed funds. Once that’s confirmed, the state will issue a check to the rightful owner.
“Don’t forget to deposit or cash the check,” Frerichs said.
Visit iCash.IllinoisTreasurer.gov to see if you have unclaimed property or are owed any money by the state.
The Illinois Treasurer’s Office has returned more than $102 million to nearly 422,000 people through the Enhanced Money Match Program since 2018.
