Tens of thousands of Maine relief checks have not been cashed – WMTW Portland

JIM KEITHLEY IS HERE TO TELL US HOW YOU CAN CHECK TO SEE IF YOU ARE OWED ANY MONEY. IT'S LIKELY PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS JUNK MAIL AND TOSSED THOSE CHECKS IN TRASH. MAINE STATE TREASURY SAYS 40,000 CHECKS TOTALING 19-MILLION DOLLARS WERE NEVER CASHED. WE HAVE GOOD NEWS TO REPORT - IT'S NOT TOO LATE. THE STATE WANTS TO GET THOSE PAYMENTS TO THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNERS - THROUGH THE MAINE'S UNCLAIMED PROPERTY SYSTEM. WE'VE POSTED THE LINK - MAINE UNCLAIMED PROPERTY DOT GOV - TO OUR WEBSITE. TYPE IN YOUR NAME AND YOU'LL FIND OUT YOU ARE AMONG THOSE 40,000 MAINERS WHO HAVE MONEY WAITING. THE STATE SENT OUT THREE CHECKS; IN 2021 - MAINE PEOPLE WHO WORKED DURING THE EARLY DAYS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WERE ISSUED A DISASTER RELIEF PAYMENT FOR $285. IN 2022 - $850 CHECKS WERE SENT OUT TO HELP PEOPLE DEAL WITH INCREASED COSTS DUE TO PANDEMIC- DRIVEN INFLATION. AND IN 2023 MAINE TAXPAYERS WERE ISSUED 450-DOLLAR CHECKS TO DEAL WITH RECORD-HIGH ENERGY COSTS. GO TO OUR WEBSITE WMTW.COM - CLICK ON THAT "MAINE UNCLAIM

Did you cash it? Tens of thousands of Maine relief checks have not been cashed

The state says more than $19 million in relief money has not been claimed

Updated: 4:31 PM EDT May 20, 2024

Did you ever cash your latest relief check from the State of Maine?On Monday, Gov. Janet Mills and State Treasurer Henry Beck said about 40,000 checks sent out as part of relief programs during and immediately following the COVID-19 pandemic have never been cashed. Those checks are worth a total of about $19 million.That money has now been turned over to the Maine Unclaimed Property program where people can claim it, or any other unclaimed property held by the state. You can also call (207) 624-7470.My Administration worked with the Legislature to deliver multiple relief payments to Maine people to help them through the economic hardships caused by the pandemic, said Mills. Now, like then, we want to make sure that money goes directly back into the pockets of Maine people. I urge you to check the Maine Unclaimed Property program to make sure you are not owed a relief payment or other unclaimed property held by the state. Nearly 2.3 million checks in total were sent out, including:$285 checks to 524,912 Maine people who worked during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic$850 checks in 2022 to 876,283 people to help deal with increased costs driven by pandemic-driven inflation$450 checks in 2023 to 877,129 taxpayers to help deal with record-high energy costsOver 98% of the funds made it directly into the hands of Maine people to help with rising costs, said Beck. Now we want to do everything we can to get the remaining payments to their rightful owners and will be doing that through our unclaimed property system.

Did you ever cash your latest relief check from the State of Maine?

On Monday, Gov. Janet Mills and State Treasurer Henry Beck said about 40,000 checks sent out as part of relief programs during and immediately following the COVID-19 pandemic have never been cashed. Those checks are worth a total of about $19 million.

That money has now been turned over to the Maine Unclaimed Property program where people can claim it, or any other unclaimed property held by the state. You can also call (207) 624-7470.

My Administration worked with the Legislature to deliver multiple relief payments to Maine people to help them through the economic hardships caused by the pandemic, said Mills. Now, like then, we want to make sure that money goes directly back into the pockets of Maine people. I urge you to check the Maine Unclaimed Property program to make sure you are not owed a relief payment or other unclaimed property held by the state.

Nearly 2.3 million checks in total were sent out, including:

Over 98% of the funds made it directly into the hands of Maine people to help with rising costs, said Beck. Now we want to do everything we can to get the remaining payments to their rightful owners and will be doing that through our unclaimed property system.

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Tens of thousands of Maine relief checks have not been cashed - WMTW Portland