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Could local government owe you money?
Chicago-area journalists delved into the “billions of dollars” that belong to “millions” of greater area Chicago residents. NBC Chicago mapped out four locations where Chicagoans could qualify for unclaimed money, including: Cook County property tax refunds, Chicago’s uncashed checks, unclaimed money from bankruptcy cases, and State of Illinois unclaimed funds. Find the investigation here.
The Illinois State Treasurer, for example, is hanging onto $3.5 billion in unclaimed funds. State officials explain: “Common types of unclaimed property include: checking and savings accounts, uncashed wage and payroll checks, uncashed stock dividends and stock certificates, insurance payments, utility deposits, customer deposits, accounts payable, credit balances, refund checks, money orders, traveler’s checks, mineral proceeds, court deposits, uncashed death benefit checks and life insurance proceeds. Unclaimed property does not include real estate or vehicles.” If you think some of the unclaimed $3.5 billion could be yours — or need to check the status of an existing claim — search online here.