For seniors on a fixed income, unclaimed money like $200 can make a big difference in their budget.
Debbie Burkham, Financial Coach with The Senior Source’s Elder Financial Safety Center (EFSC), recently helped one client claim this amount from the Texas unclaimed property website, CLAIMITTEXAS.ORG.
Burkham’s client is a veteran who is disabled and works for a food delivery service. “He used the unclaimed money to buy a new battery for his car, which is essential for his job,” she said. “He was very grateful.” One in 10 Americans have missing money, and $49 billion in unclaimed funds are waiting to be claimed. On average, only about $3 billion is paid out every year. Most rightful owners are unaware that they have outstanding payments or they are unfamiliar with the concept of unclaimed property.
Help Seniors in Claiming Their Unclaimed Money
When an older adult contacts our EFSC staff for financial assistance, checking for unclaimed property is among the first things, we do. “We have a multitude of strategies and tools that we use to help our
clients,” Burkham said. “But helping them file for unclaimed property can be one of the easiest and fastest. It’s their money, and they can have a check-in their hands within eight weeks on average.”
For seniors without internet service or access to a computer, however, the process of finding and filing for unclaimed property can be especially hard. “The newspaper used to print a list of names on February 1st, National Unclaimed Property Day, every year,” Burkham added. “I’m not sure if they do that anymore. Claim It Texas also has a phone number 1-800-321-2274.”
Burkham recommends everyone check the unclaimed property lists for the current state and any past state in which they have lived. In addition, she suggests checking for elderly family and friends. “I just had money show up this year for my dad from a rental deposit he made in the 1980s. You never know what you will find.”
Beware of Scams
Unfortunately, there also are many frauds and senior scams surrounding unclaimed money. It is all too common to receive a text or a letter from an unknown person stating you have a large amount of unclaimed cash. Then they collect your personal information and then steal your identity. Before divulging your social security number or other sensitive information, ensure that you are on a legitimate website or with a trusted financial advisor, such as The Senior Source’s EFSC staff.
More Information
If you are an older adult living in Dallas or Collin Counties and would like help determining if you are owed money on a state unclaimed property list and filing to collect it, our EFSC financial advisors can help. Contact us on our website; email JKrawczyk@TheSeniorSource.org, or call us at (214) 823-5700.
Detail state or federal programs aimed at helping seniors claim unclaimed money. For instance, some states have senior-specific assistance programs to help them navigate the claims process. You can also mention the role of agencies like The Senior Source that provide help to seniors in locating these funds. Provide a brief mention of common scams or fraud schemes targeting seniors in the process of claiming unclaimed funds. Include tips on how to avoid these pitfalls, such as never paying for the search of unclaimed money and being cautious about sharing personal information.
Talk about how accessing unclaimed funds not only helps seniors with immediate financial needs but also provides long-term benefits, such as increased peace of mind, the ability to invest in health and wellness, or the capacity to contribute to future savings.
Don’t fall for scams! Ensure your financial safety by consulting with a trusted advisor at The Senior Source. Reach out today to learn how to safely claim your unclaimed money.
