Oregon to Distribute $3.5 Million in Unclaimed Checks From 2019–2023 Without Residents Needing to File Claims

Oregonians will be mailed checks in October through the ‘Checks Without Claims’ initiative after Oregon State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner, MD, announced yesterday that the Treasury will be proactively returning approximately $3.5 million in unclaimed property to individuals in October.

Oregon Treasury Returning $3.5 Million In Checks Without Claims

The Oregon Treasury will proactively disburse payments to verified owners of unclaimed checks between 2019 and 2023 through its  ‘Checks Without Claims’ initiative, part of the state’s  Unclaimed Property Program, which began earlier this year.

The Treasury conducts ‘Checks Without Claims’ to proactively verify the ownership of unclaimed assets with up-to-date information and facilitate direct payments to the owners.

‘Checks Without Claims’  reconnected more than 20,000 individuals with their unclaimed funds totaling nearly $11 million.

The payments are unclaimed property that were reported by retail businesses and organizations that were unable to return funds to the rightful owner within the appropriate time period. For example, uncashed payroll checks, forgotten bank accounts, tax refunds, credit balances, investment accounts, refunds, and more.

Treasurer Steiner said, “At Treasury, we are pleased to reunite thousands of Oregonians with their forgotten cash—especially since they don’t have to lift a finger to get it.”

The Treasury’s ‘Checks Without Claims’ program currently holds over $1 billion in unclaimed funds, and this move is one of their many efforts to return more unclaimed money and property to Oregonians. Almost one in seven people in the United States has unclaimed property.

To Claim Your “Checks Without Claims”:

• File a claim with Oregon’s Unclaimed Property Program: Fill out the verification process to receive the funds to which you are entitled.
• Search for unclaimed funds for free by visiting the Treasury’s unclaimed property website at unclaimed.oregon.gov.
• Questions about unclaimed funds or “Checks without Claims” can be sent to Oregon’s Unclaimed Property Program: email [email protected] or call 503-566-9445.

Checks distributed will vary in amount between $50 and $10,000. The checks will be mailed to individuals this month with a confirmation letter from the Treasurer.