Get a Piece of Illinois’ $3 Billion in Unclaimed Funds

In a shocking revelation, Illinois has collected a massive amount of money that belongs to its residents, past and present.

The total amount of unclaimed funds in its possession has reached a staggering $3.5 billion.

These funds come from forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance policies, and other forms of abandoned property, which have been accumulating over the years, waiting for their rightful owners to claim them.

Ok, But  Forgotten Accounts? How Does This Happen?

It could be people moved without updating their contact information, forgetting about old bank accounts, or failing to claim insurance policies after the death of a loved one.

In some cases, the owners of the funds may not even be aware that they are entitled to the money.

The Illinois State Treasurer's Office has been diligently working to reunite individuals with their lost assets, or so they say.

Don't worry though, they're doing everything they can to protect and safeguard these funds until they can be returned to their rightful owners or heirs.

How Is Illinois The Illinois State Treasurer's Office Protecting These Funds?

The specifics haven't been revealed, but my guess is making claiming these funds as easy as completing one of those American Ninja Warrior courses.

The Illinois State Treasurer's Office has made it seem relatively easy to check if they have unclaimed funds waiting for you.

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They have an online database where residents can search for their names or the names of deceased relatives, or business names to see if any funds are owed to them.

After the first few clicks, the challenge intensifies including printing a document, filling out, and sending it through snail mail.

(We all know how timely the State of Illinois is with getting things taken care of by mail.)

Updates To Make It Easier?

If you've been to illinoistreasurer.gov before you might notice the appearance is slightly different as it's been upgraded to "improve user experience" and make the search process even more "convenient."

If you discover there are unclaimed funds in your name, you can file a claim directly through the website.

The State Treasurer's Office provides detailed instructions on the necessary documentation and steps to be taken to prove ownership.

Once the claim is verified, the funds are returned to their rightful owner.

What About Unclaimed Funds In Other States?

Good news, you can do the same steps here to see if there are unclaimed funds in your name.