Over $3.5 Billion Returned During Last 5 Years
State Representative Blaine Wilhour is working with the State Treasurer to help remind people that they should check to see if the State of Illinois is holding any cash or property that belongs to them. The process is free to check the I-Cash search option online at https://icash.illinoistreasurer.gov/. If you do not have access to the internet, please contact Rep. Wilhour’s office for assistance.
“We hear stories about people receiving various amounts of money that they forgot was owed to them from an insurance policy and occasionally we hear about things like a Purple Heart medal discovered in a safe deposit box that is returned to the soldier or their family,” said Rep. Wilhour. “I encourage everyone to check and see if the State of Illinois is holding money or property that rightfully belongs to them.”
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs and Rep. Wilhour want you to know that most people are surprised to learn that the state might have their missing money or unclaimed property – and they don’t even know it. You can see if your name is among the thousands who have missing money by searching your name, a relative’s name, the name of a business or the name of a non-profit organization.
Examples of unclaimed property include unpaid life insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts and unused rebate cards. The state treasurer is legally required to return the property to the rightful owner no matter how long it takes.
An estimated one out of every four people in Illinois have unclaimed property. Because unclaimed property is surrendered to the treasurer’s office twice each year, you are encouraged to check the database twice each year; for example, on your birthday and six months later.
Property Value Returned by County within the 107th District (Total to Date = $2,960,391):
Bond $218,103
Clinton $637,509
Effingham $836,089
Fayette $373,689
Marion $895,001