When the state wants to give you money, take it

We could all use a little more money, times being what they are. And the state might have some unclaimed cash or property with your name on it.

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs this week said he has $5 billion of unclaimed property — including money — that his office is working to place into the hands of its rightful owners.

The bounty is the result of years of proceeds from defunct bank accounts, forgotten safe deposit boxes, unclaimed rebate checks and refunds, and other abandoned property being forwarded to the state when the owners couldn’t be found.

Frerichs said his office has returned over $2 billion of unclaimed property since he was elected treasurer in 2015.

Illinois residents can see if they’re owed anything and start the claims process by visiting icash.illinoistreasurer.gov.

Meanwhile, the treasurer’s office is also searching for owners through its Enhanced Money Match program. The process cross matches state data with the treasurer’s unclaimed property list — then sends out a check if a person’s name and address match the state’s information.

The state has shelled out $13.2 million to almost 140,000 people recently through the program.

The individual payouts are unlikely to give the Illinois Lottery a run for its money. But every little bit helps.

One Matteson woman checked the treasurer’s unclaimed property website in September. Sure enough, there was money there, and she received a check for almost $500 two weeks later. She was owed the money as an insurance reimbursement since a 2016 health care visit, but had moved since then and never got the check.

“Everything was pretty smooth,” the woman told the Sun-Times. “I did it, and I got some money back.”

All Illinoisans should follow her lead and search as well. Government takes so much from state residents. Here’s a chance to get some of it back.

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