Are You Owed Any Unclaimed Property?

September 29, 2017

Are You Owed Any Unclaimed Property?

The Pennsylvania Treasury Department is currently holding more than $2.3 billion in unclaimed property, with about one in 10 residents eligible to recoup that property.

Unclaimed property is any financial asset that has been left inactive by the owner for a period of three years or more. If no lawful owner claims the property at that time, it is transferred to the Treasury.

The most common kinds of unclaimed property include savings and checking accounts, uncashed checks, unclaimed insurance benefits and items abandoned in forgotten safe deposit boxes. The amounts can range from a few dollars to a few thousand dollars.

To find out if you or a member of your family is entitled to unclaimed property, visit the Pennsylvania Treasury Department website.

If you can prove ownership, the property will be returned to you free of charge. There is no need to pay a private service to submit a claim.

Meadville-Area Driver License Center Re-opened

After closing earlier this month due to a facility issue that required repairs, the Meadville Driver License Center, located at 16942 Patricia Drive, is re-open to serve drivers and other residents.

The driver license center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The photo license center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Preventing Illegals from Using Welfare Benefits

To help prevent the fraudulent use of public assistance benefits, the House passed legislation this week to further crack down on welfare fraud by requiring proper documentation of citizenship and residency when applying for local and state benefits.

Under House Bill 1095, individuals who apply for benefits directly must provide an acceptable form of identification, or an affidavit certifying their citizenship. The bill would not change any eligibility criteria for the receipt of public benefits. It merely would update Pennsylvania law to ensure compliance with federal law.

The bill would also prohibit individuals from possessing multiple ACCESS cards. Any person who violates this prohibition would be charged with a third-degree felony.

House Bill 1095 now goes to the state Senate.

Protect Yourself from the Flu

The state Department of Health is encouraging all Pennsylvanians over 6 months of age to get a flu vaccine.

Infants and children, seniors, pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions are especially susceptible to developing flu-related complications.

Other steps people can take to protect against the flu include:

Washing your hands often with soap and warm water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and throwing any used tissues in the trash.
Keeping your hands away from your face, and not touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Disinfecting frequently used surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, TV remotes or countertops.
Avoiding contact with individuals who may have the flu. When sick, stay home until at least 24 hours after your fever goes away on its own without the use of fever-reducing medicine.

Talk to your doctor about obtaining a flu vaccine or click here for information about the flu.

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