7/27/2020

For Immediate Release: Monday, July 27, 2020 Contact: Office of Communications, Communications@MyFloridaCFO.com, 850.413.2842

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…. AP: “With the economy tanking, more people seeking unclaimed cash” “With the economy tanking, more people seeking unclaimed cash” Associated Press Brendan Farrington July 24, 2020 For Full Story Click HERE   TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Florida is seeing a surge in people making claims for unclaimed property since the coronavirus pandemic has shaken up the state’s economy.   ---   “We pushed out over $38 million just in the month of March. That’s the second highest month in the history of the program,” Patronis said. “Just during the COVID-19 pandemic time, we’ve pushed out almost $124 million. That’s $124 million that’s going back into the economy. That’s money that’s not sitting in our accounts anymore.”   There are millions of accounts with unclaimed property. It could be a savings account someone forgot about, a car insurance refund, inheritances and more.

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The state is sitting on about $2 billion in unclaimed property, and takes in another $400 million a year, Patronis said. In the fiscal year that ended June 30, the state returned $328 million. One in five Floridians have unclaimed property, he said.   ###

About CFO Jimmy Patronis  Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is a statewide elected official and a member of Florida’s Cabinet who oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Patronis works each day to fight insurance fraud, support Florida’s firefighters, and ensure the state’s finances are stable to support economic growth in the state. Follow the activities of the Department on Facebook (FLDFS) and Twitter (@FLDFS).