The Illinois Dash For Cash is the term the Illinois Treasure’s Department uses to describe their unclaimed money search website.
CHICAGO — You say you could never lose your money? You could be surprised, NBC5’s Kim Vatis said, because according to the State Treasurer, there could be a one-in-five chance that some of the forgotten funds held by the Illinois Treasurer’s Office belong to you. All you need is your name on the Illinois Dash For Cash website , and the state’s computers will figure out if you’re entitled to any of the unclaimed money. “I had a deceased aunt, with a savings account (that was) never claimed,” said Fadi Zanayed. The unclaimed funds usually come from forgotten bank accounts, stocks, bonds, security deposits and insurance checks, Vatis reported, but sometimes, she said, even entire estates go unclaimed. While the average payout is $400 to $600, Vatis said, there are also bigger windfalls. Steve Dugan, for instance, was able to claim more than $20,000. “I was kind of shocked,” Dugan said. “How could I have lost this without knowing it?” One claim alone gave him a $13,000 check. “They told me Chase Manhattan Bank, out of New York,” Dugan said of the money’s source. “I don’t know (why it was there) — could have been stocks, bonds, inheritance.”


State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka initiated “Illinois Dash for Cash,” the state’s campaign to get people their money. “We just try to pump it back,” Topinka said. “Over the last two years, we’ve returned $125 million to people.” The biggest payout, so far, has been $800,000, according to Topinka. Topinka said the number of potential claimants gives Illinois residents a one-in-five chance of being on the list of people whose money is being held by the state of Illinois. “We’re talking five million names and $1 billion,” Topinka said. “So, really, with one-in-five chances, you’ve got something better than the lottery!” The billion dollars’ worth of unclaimed assets that have been abandoned for five years or more sit in a vault at the state capitol in Springfield.

Allissa Camp, Director of Unclaimed Property, showed Vatis the stash of goods. “And it’s not just money,” Camp said. “These jewels and valuables are simply left in safety deposit boxes. An amazing array of collectibles from time past — wills and even war medals. It’s sad. These once meant something to someone, and either they or their heirs have forgotten about it.”

Camp said that anything that is not claimed is auctioned off, because there’s not enough space to keep it.

It costs you nothing to get the money back if you find your name on the list, and it doesn’t take much time either. The state has a Dash for Cash Web site that takes you through the process.

The list of unclaimed money is updated every six months, so even if you’ve checked for your name before, it’s worth repeating the effort.Topinka told Vatis that even though it’s easy to check if you have unclaimed goods being held by the state, it’s more important to avoid the situation.

“Tell someone that these accounts are out there,” Topinka said. “Often people die and don’t tell anybody about it, and the family doesn’t know.” That’s why it’s critical to keep an inventory of all your assets, Vatis advised. Let someone know about it and always make a change of address when you move, so your money can find you.

 

Billions of dollars go unclaimed every year.  There are millions of people that are unaware that they have money owed to them.  You can get a nice commission just letting them know about it.

Learn how to make money as an Unclaimed Money Finder

If you’re a veteran and someone tells you that veterans unclaimed money is being held for you, don’t dismiss it as untrue.

Take a look at this video:

Only 10% of the veterans that were notified of unclaimed money being held for them by the state responded. 10%!


Veterans and their families may be eligible to receive unclaimed funds totaling at about $33 million, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans’ advocacy groups say many families have no idea the veterans unclaimed money is there.

“A life insurance policy could make a huge difference for the veteran’s family, but only if they know who to contact and how to claim it,” said Peg Bergeron, executive director of the American Military Retirees Association.

Unclaimed life-insurance policy payments, dividend checks and refunds — about $33 million in all — have accumulated since the beginning of the Veterans Affairs insurance programs in 1917. The unclaimed payments can go up to $4,000 but are typically between $5 and $750, according to Thomas Lastowka, director for insurance for the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Lastowka said the amount is dependent on the premium that the solider chose to pay in the original policy.

“Up until the 1950s or 60s, the standard large insurance policy was $10,000,” said Lastowka. “Back in 1917, the standard policy written was between $1 and $1,500. Historically, $10,000 was a lot of insurance for people to have.”

Lastowka cautioned that many families would not find they are eligible for veterans unclaimed money.

“For the vast majority of people who use it, they don’t find any accounts related to them,” Lastowka said.

About 25 million people have enrolled in the insurance programs since World War I, according to Lastowka. The bulk of the unclaimed funds date from World War II, when about 22 million people enrolled.

He urged veterans’ families to check if they are eligible through the Veterans Affairs website: https://insurance.va.gov/liability/ufsearch.htm. Family members should have a veteran’s name, date of birth, death and, if possible, the insurance policy number.

Lastowka said the website, which the department launched seven years ago, is the fastest method to determine if a family member is eligible for a payment. There is also a toll-free phone number (1-800-669-8477).

Veterans’ groups say families are at a disadvantage in trying to receive information about their insurance policy payouts.

“There’s an enormous waiting time of getting things approved. I think there’s so much red tape that a number of these veterans have to go through,” said Raphael Works, chairman and founder of the Veterans Association of America. “These veterans and their families should be getting the reciprocity they rightfully deserve.”

The $33 million in unclaimed funds is unrelated to the insurance programs for soldiers in active duty, the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance and Veterans Group Life Insurance programs. In 2005, Congress permanently raised the maximum coverage for these insurance programs from $250,000 to $400,000. A group of family members under the organization, Veterans and Military Families for Progress, filed a complaint last year against Prudential Insurance Company for abuses related to the distribution of those programs.

Matt Cary, executive director of Veterans and Military Families for Progress, said although it is challenging to keep track of veterans’ families who have changed addresses, the military is efficient at keeping track of the men and women in active service.

“The military keeps good records of their own personnel,” said Cary, a Vietnam War veteran. “So if anybody in the military has the opportunity to get these life insurance policies, the money comes out of their paycheck to pay the premium on this. It’s part of joining.”

Lastowka said extending information about the unclaimed funds is an important effort of the Department of Veteran Affairs. He said the V.A. works with other agencies, including the State Department and National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs, to spread the word about the unclaimed funds.

“There’s always outreach to provide retroactive payments to people. Part of what we do at the V.A. is so people are aware of the benefits they’re entitled to,” Lastowka said.

Peg Bergeron said states, not just the Department of Veteran Affairs, have a role in helping notify families of unclaimed benefits. State treasurers and other agencies hold some $32.877 billion in unclaimed funds for 117 million accounts, according to the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators.

“Since VA funds are not included on state websites listing veterans unclaimed money, it might be helpful if those sites contained advice for veterans and surviving family members about how to check for veterans unclaimed money,” Bergeron said.

Bergeron said her organization and other veteran groups try to inform their members of the many issues related to veterans’ benefits and funds. She advises veterans and military retirees using the VA consistently to update their contact information with the agency.

“And they should make certain that their spouses and dependents are aware of what they are entitled to when the veteran passes away,” Bergeron said.

This is the meal!

It seems like the below sitcom hit on just about every topic imaginable.  I wasn’t surprised when they touched on the subject of unclaimed money.

If you had found George’s $1900 and helped him recover it, you could have charged 15% commission in New York.  That’s a cool $285 for just a little bit of work.  Giddy-yap!

Click to play below video

Here’s another sitcom getting in on the unclaimed money bandwagon.  You never know who might be holding unclaimed money!

Even comedians and other celebrities have unclaimed money waiting for them that they are not aware of.

Who wouldn’t want to contact Jennifer Anniston or George Clooney as an unclaimed money finder to tell them you what you’ve found?

Click here to see famous celebrities owed unclaimed money!

Hulk Hogan has unclaimed money!

How would you like to get in touch with any of these celebrities or hundreds more to tell them they had unclaimed money being held for them?

Become an unclaimed money finder and you can!

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