TREASURE TROVE
Americans could be entitled to thousands from $1 billion ‘lost and found’ pot – see if you’re eligible to cash in
You could still have a chance to receive the money even if you are not eligible to
AMERICANS can claim thousands of dollars from a $1billion "lost and found" pot.
A huge pile of cash is up for grab along with properties worth millions as well as thousands of bank accounts and life insurance policies - with no one to claim.
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The Oklahoma State Treasurer's Office over the years has accumulated more than $1billion in property and money left behind by locals.
According to the official policy, when a resident of Oklahoma dies and no one is found to be the heir to their property and belongings, it is sent to the state.
The treasurer's office now operates a warehouse filled with expensive jewelery, forgotten baseball cards and cash - all left behind by locals with no one to claim.
"We’re like the lost and found bin for the state of Oklahoma," said State Treasurer Todd Russ.
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"That’s why we are at over a billion dollars today because it just accumulates and it just keeps building," he added.
Heirs of the properties and money can claim their share whenever they want - and until then the money will remain locked in.
The state office is now trying to connect to the inheritors of the items and cash through the Unclaimed Property Division.
The warehouse is safely locked away and there is no deadline for when an heir can claim the money so until then it will be kept in secured bank accounts.
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CAN YOU CLAIM?
Any resident of the state of Oklahoma can find out if they are entitled to payment by simply visiting the State Treasures website or a national database.
All they need to do is type out their full name in a form to check if they have any unclaimed property.
I got $72,000 in free money just by making a phone call - cash is available to people who meet 3 simple requirements
Recently, a man was found he had an unclaimed life insurance worth $3million sitting under his name.
The hefty sum of money was given to him in the form of semi-regular payouts, ranging from $100,000 to $300,000.
If someone does not find a property under their name, they could still get an opportunity to get someone else's properties through an auction.
"After a while, we get so much volume," Russ said.
"I mean we have large vaults that we store these in, large cabinets and vaults, but we still run out of space," he added.
Russ confirmed the next auction would take place this fall.
HOW TO BANK UNCLAIMED CASH
Your State - consult your unclaimed property office
Current and Former Employers - expert Vicky Nguyen Nguyen recommends checking the Department of Labor’s database for 'Workers Owed Wages'
Closed or Failed Banks - visit the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) website and enter your name and state and the name and city of the bank
Meanwhile, millions of Americans can get a one-time payment of up to $1,050 from a $125million pot.
The funds were meant to help residents deal with inflation.
California's Franchise Tax Board sent the Middle-Class Tax Refund (MCTR) either via direct deposit or debit card.
Debit cards pre-loaded with funds were mailed to eligible residents through a contract between the state Franchise Tax Board and a vendor called Money Network.
The payments range from $200 to $1,050 depending on income.
The funds were available to all but the wealthiest residents of California and can be activated through April 30, 2026.
The Franchise Tax Board said any unused benefits will no longer be available to use after the program expires.
According to the Franchise Tax Board, the state has already given out nearly 7.2 million payments to residents.
A small number of the cards were converted to paper checks, however, 624,000 debit cards and at least $125 million in benefits are still untouched.
Those attempting to activate their card for the first time should call 1-800-240-0223 to receive their funds.
It comes as thousands of Americans have been urged to check their savings bonds as they could be entitled to a portion of $709 million.
The unredeemed bonds held by nearly 300,000 residents in Illinois have fully matured, meaning they are no longer accruing interest.
To assist residents the US Treasury has a website for bondholders to see how much their holdings are worth.
Bonds worth up to $500 can be cashed at most banks.
