Cash Dash Illinois

Residents Dash for Their Potential Piece of $1.5 Billion in Unclaimed Cash

Does the state have your money?

It’s worth a check considering the Illinois Treasury’s Unclaimed Property Division is now holding $1.5 billion dollars in cash and unclaimed assets. Many did so on Thursday during a Cash Dash at the Tinley Park Village Hall which was hosted by Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford.

“These are assets that belong to people,” he said. “But we don’t know where to find them.”

His program — it's touring the state— is an aggressive attempt to reconcile the funds and personal property to its owners or rightful heirs.

Examples of  unclaimed property Thursday were inactive bank account funds, unpaid wages or commissions, stocks, life insurance properties and bill over-payments. Many items also came from safety deposit boxes which, if unclaimed after five years, are turned over to the state treasury.

“We took all this information and created an online database easily accessible to the public,” he said. “All people have to do is enter their name and information, or their relative’s information, to check if there is indeed money or property owed to them.”

Such was the case with Gloria Burklow, who waited patiently Thursday for her turn to speak with a Cash Dash marketer. Burkow’s daughter did an initial search on the Cash Dash website and found her mother’s name linked to one of the 10 million entries.

“I believe the money is from when I worked at Safeway years ago,” the Monee resident said. “The company probably sent a check to my old address in Oak Forest, but by that time I was no longer living there.”

Once a link is found and claimed, the treasury department makes a thorough check on the validity of the claim through proper identification and information.

There is no cost to file a claim, and if you don’t find a link after the first try, don’t fret. The database is updated every week to reflect new assets and properties remitted to the treasury office. On average, the Cash Dash program returns close to $80 million dollars annually to rightful owners.

Burkow is not sure how much her claim is worth, but hopes “it will at least be enough for gas money!”

Think you might be owed some money?

Visit the Cash Dash link on the treasurer’s website, or contact the Unclaimed Property Division at 217-785-6998 or info@cashdash.

Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford to hold Cash Dash event in ...

SPRINGFIELD – July 26, 2011 – Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford is encouraging residents in the Savanna area to attend his Cash Dash event on Tuesday, August 2, 2011, to determine if the state is holding any money or unclaimed property entitled to them. The event will be held at Savanna City Hall, 333 Chicago Avenue. At 2:30 p.m., Rutherford, Senator Mike Jacobs (D-Moline), and Representative Richard Morthland (R-Moline) will provide remarks and hold a media availability. They will depart around 3 p.m. Cash Dash marketers will be on site to help local residents find out if they have unclaimed property from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. "People are thrilled to find out they have money just waiting for them through Cash Dash," says Rutherford. "I encourage area residents to come visit me at local Cash Dash events for assistance is locating their money or property – plus everyone should make an attempt to review our online database annually so they don't miss out on money or valuable assets the state is holding for them." The treasurer's Unclaimed Property Division has $1.5 billion in cash, plus contents from Illinois bank safety deposit boxes that have been abandoned for at least five years. The Cash Dash program helps reunite owners with their unclaimed property. On average, the Cash Dash program returns about $80 million dollars annually to owners. It's common for people to lose track of their assets when they move or when loved ones pass away. Businesses and banks are required to turn over unclaimed accounts to the treasurer's office. To find out if you have unclaimed property through Cash Dash, you can visit the treasurer's website www.treasurer.il.gov and follow the Cash Dash link. The website is updated weekly to reflect new properties remitted to the office. Additionally, our Cash Dash teams conduct regular outreach across the state, place twice-annual inserts in major newspapers and send direct mail to new single-owner claimants over $25. You can contact the Unclaimed Property Division by calling 217-785-6998 or emailing info@cashdash.net.

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