PRESS RELEASE
UPDATE: Treasurer Fitzpatrick and DOLIR Partnership Returns almost $600,000 to Missourians in One Month
Jefferson City, MO—In October, Missouri State Treasurer Scott
Fitzpatrick and the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ (DOLIR’s) Division
of Employment Security partnered to return Unclaimed Property to Missourians
who have applied for unemployment benefits. In just one month, this initiative
has returned $593,174.55, representing 3,967 accounts. The largest payment was
over $36,000. By cross-referencing DOLIR’s
data with the Unclaimed Property database, the Treasurer’s Office is able to
conduct proactive outreach more successfully. Over the past month, the Unclaimed
Property Division has contacted 100,000 Missourians via email, postcards, and
phone calls. “As we enter the holiday season,
while weathering the impact of COVID-19, I know that every dollar counts for
Missourians across the state—and that’s why it is a priority to use as many
resources as possible to return unclaimed property to rightful owners. This is
an example of good government working for the people,” Treasurer Fitzpatrick
said. “I encourage all Missourians to search the unclaimed property list—and that
includes non-profits and businesses, too.” Those who receive outreach in
the form of a postcard, email, or phone call will have to submit a claim for
their unclaimed property. The Treasurer’s Office anticipates the number of
matches generated by this partnership is likely in excess of a hundred thousand claims representing tens of millions of dollars that could be returned to
Missourians who need it. Last year, Treasurer Fitzpatrick
worked with the Department of Social
Services to launch
an automated system that matches unclaimed property with past-due child
support. This new system has returned more than $3.5 million in past-due child
support payments to Missouri families. 1 in 10 Missourians has
unclaimed property and the average return is $300. Missourians can search and
claim online at ShowMeMoney.com.
The Treasurer’s Office does not charge to return unclaimed property. Since taking office in 2019,
Treasurer Fitzpatrick has broken three unclaimed property records, returning
the first $1 million of his administration in less than 10 days, returning
over $45 million in one fiscal year, and returning
unclaimed property to more Missourians in one year than any prior treasurer.
Follow the Treasurer’s Office on Twitter,
Facebook, and Instagram @motreasurer. ###