Illinois’ Enhanced Money Match: People in Illinois are getting an unexpected gift this summer. The state has started sending surprise checks to residents as part of the Enhanced Money Match program. This isn’t like the usual stimulus payments. It’s actually money that already belongs to the people and the state is just returning it. The program is run by the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office and it helps people get their unclaimed money without filling out forms or doing anything.
The best part is that residents don’t even need to apply. The Treasurer’s team uses data and technology to match names and addresses with its records of unclaimed property. If everything matches correctly, the person gets a letter to let them know, and shortly after that, the check arrives in the mail.
Treasurer Michael Frerichs made it clear that this is not a scam. He said the money is real and belongs to the people. The goal of the program is to protect consumers and make sure they get back what’s rightfully theirs.
Who is eligible to claim a deposit from the Enhanced Money Match program?
The Enhanced Money Match program mainly handles direct cash payments that belong to one individual. This can include money from things like:
- Forgotten bank accounts
- Uncashed payroll or reimbursement checks
- Unpaid life insurance benefits
- Unused refund cards
If you live in Illinois now or lived there before and have money that was left unclaimed or forgotten in any of these areas, there’s a good chance you could be eligible.
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Biggest Payout inUnclaimed Money
This summer, nearly 600,000 people across Illinois will receive part of a $45 million payout. This is the biggest unclaimed money return ever in the country. Since the Enhanced Money Match program began in 2018, over $130 million has been returned to around 870,000 people. The checks are usually for things like forgotten insurance payments, refunds, or inactive accounts.
Even if someone doesn’t get a surprise check now, they might still have unclaimed money sitting with the state. The Treasurer’s Office holds more than $5 billion in unclaimed property. If a person thinks they might have money waiting for them, they can check the I-CASH website. Some types of unclaimed property, like stocks, bonds, or safe deposit box contents, are not included in the Enhanced Money Match system, but can still be claimed through other steps.
