April 20, 2023 -Did you know there are 169,470 unclaimed properties totaling more than $32.4 million in Macon County alone? State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is hoping to reunite Central Illinois residents with that property that is waiting to be claimed through I-Cash.
The money is waiting to be claimed under the office’s I-Cash program, which safeguards unpaid life insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts, and unused rebate cards until they can be returned to their rightful owner.
“It’s often a surprise for people to find out they have an overlooked investment account or final paycheck through no fault of their own,” Frerichs said. “This money and property belong to the people of Illinois. It should be in their pocketbook rather than the state’s safe.”
Frerichs’ reminder is part of a statewide digital media, newspaper and direct mail push to reunite residents with more than $3.5 billion in unclaimed property. State law requires the Illinois Treasurer’s Office to publish newspaper ads in all 102 Illinois counties every six months and to send letters to residents who have newly reported unclaimed property of $100 or more.
Here are the unclaimed property totals in Central Illinois:
- In Sangamon County, there are more than 337,180 unclaimed properties totaling more than $42.8 million.
- In Champaign County, there are more than 328,140 unclaimed properties totaling more than $28.3 million.
- In Macon County, there are more than 169,470 unclaimed properties totaling more than $32.4 million.
- In Christian County, there are nearly 41,000 unclaimed properties totaling more than $7.1 million.
- In Macoupin County, there are more than 60,700 unclaimed properties totaling nearly $2.2 million.
- In Shelby County, there are 18,680 unclaimed properties totaling more than $1.1 million.
- In Moultrie County, there are more than 14,300 unclaimed properties totaling nearly $51,500.
- In Piatt County, there are more than 18,680 unclaimed properties totaling more than $3.7 million.
- In DeWitt County, there are more than 21,130 unclaimed properties totaling nearly $1 million.
An estimated one-in-four adults in Illinois who search I-Cash find unclaimed property, and the average claim is $1,000.
Thousands of items are reported and remitted to the state annually, and residents are encouraged to check the unclaimed property database twice each year. Set up a reminder on your smart phone’s calendar or fire up your computer and do a search when you change your smoke detector batteries every six months. Visit www.illinoistreasurer.gov/ICASH to enter your name and find out if unclaimed property is waiting for you.
