The state of Illinois might be holding onto your forgotten cash. Ahead of National Unclaimed Property Day Saturday, here’s what you need to know and how to get your money back.
What is Unclaimed Property?
It’s the money you might not have collected from a business or government office. It can be from bank accounts, payroll checks, utility refunds, uncashed checks, safe deposit boxes, and more.
The amount ranges: City Casters have gotten $5 back from college barista days and more than $100 from old car insurance.
Illinois Has A LOT to Give Away …
The state holds more than $5 billion in unclaimed property, the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office shared earlier this month.
Last year, the state returned almost $299 million in missing money, with the average amount of a claim being $902.
Go to this state portal to find your forgotten cash. (Illinois State Treasurer)
How to Claim Unclaimed Property
Search for unclaimed properties on the state’s iCash database. Since new properties are added weekly, it’s worth regularly checking. Try different spellings and old addresses.
Don’t Stop At Illinois
If you’ve lived in other states, see if you have unclaimed properties there.
