PRESS RELEASE
Treasurer Fitzpatrick Returns Unclaimed Property to Unemployed Missourians
Jefferson City, MO—Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick and the
Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ (DOLIR’s) Division of Employment
Security have partnered to help return Unclaimed Property to Missourians who
have applied for unemployment benefits. By cross-referencing DOLIR’s
data with the Unclaimed Property database, the Treasurer’s Office is able to
conduct proactive outreach more successfully. Beginning last week, the Unclaimed
Property Division began proactive outreach, contacting over 88,000 Missourians.
These efforts have already generated more than $186,000 in returned unclaimed
property to almost 2,300 Missourians, with many of those checks already in the
mail. “Unclaimed Property is usually
unclaimed because contact information is out of date. As Treasurer, utilizing
as many resources as possible to return money to Missourians, especially as we
mitigate the impact of COVID-19, is a priority,” Treasurer Fitzpatrick said. “I
became involved in politics because I wanted to improve government efficiency
and working with other state agencies to share data and help Missourians is one
way to do that. I am grateful to the staff in my office who have been working
on this new initiative since May and to the team at DOLIR for their partnership.
I look forward to finding ways to work with other agencies to get unclaimed
property back to Missourians where it belongs.” “DOLIR is happy to partner with Treasurer
Fitzpatrick in bringing much needed resources to individuals at this time when
so many Missouri families are in need. The collaboration to identify and notify
individuals who have utilized Missouri’s unemployment system that have
potential unclaimed property not only serves our citizenry during a time of
need, but is the very definition of what government should be doing,” said
DOLIR Director Anna Hui. “This is a great example of how Governor Parson and
Treasurer Fitzpatrick are leading state government staff to work better together
to serve Missourians.” 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 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.
Today’s press conference was
live streamed on the Treasurer’s
Office Facebook Page. Follow the Treasurer’s Office on Twitter,
Facebook, and Instagram @motreasurer. ###