Blog: Search For Unclaimed Cash
By Jim Donovan: When was the last time you checked to see if you were owed any unclaimed funds? I know, you've probably never checked! Well this is my annual reminder that you should do yourself a favor and at least look. Spending a few minutes on some key websites could net you some cash!
This week the Pennsylvania Treasury will be posting in local newspapers the names of people that are owed cash. But you don't need to have a newspaper to see if you're one of them. You can check online, I just did my annual check and I've posted links for you below to search nationwide.
The Pennsylvania Treasury is holding $1.9 billion in unclaimed property of which $467 million is available for claim by residents, businesses and organizations in southeastern Pennsylvania alone. Treasurer Rob McCord noted that an individual in Folsom, Delaware County, and an individual in Jenkintown, Montgomery County, are each owed over $60,000, and a $150,000 claim is waiting to be returned to a business in Philadelphia.
The PA Treasury each year receives millions of dollars in unclaimed property in the form of abandoned bank accounts, forgotten stocks, uncashed checks, and contents of safe deposit boxes. The average claim is worth around $1,200.
You can search do a FREE search of the Pennsylvania Treasury department's unclaimed property database at: http://www.patreasury.gov/Unclaimed/Search.html
Individuals who recognize a name in the online database may claim their property by calling 1-800-222-2046, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Treasury's Return Team will be happy to assist them in recovering their property free of charge. Claims can also be initiated online at www.patreasury.gov.
NOTE: YOU SHOULD NEVER PAY A FEE TO FILE A CLAIM FOR UNCLAIMED PROPERTY. THERE ARE COMPANIES THAT CHARGE FEES TO ASSIST YOU IN FILING A CLAIM, I SUGGEST THAT YOU AVOID THEM.
In Delaware you can search for unclaimed funds at http://revenue.delaware.gov/unclaimedproperty.shtml
In New Jersey, Maryland and 36 other states you can search for unclaimed funds at: http://www.missingmoney.com/
In New York search via http://www.osc.state.ny.us/ouf/
