PA Treasurer McCord Says Over $110,000 in Unclaimed Property Seized For Overdue Child Support via Partnership with Department of Public Welfare

Harrisburg – Children who have been denied support payments by a parent have benefited from more than $110,000 that has been seized and redirected to them through a joint effort of the Pennsylvania State Treasury and the Department of Public Welfare, State Treasurer Rob McCord said today.

In January 2010, Treasury’s Bureau of Unclaimed Property worked with DPW’s Bureau of Child Support Enforcement to develop unified procedures whereby county offices may seize unclaimed property that belongs to a parent who has not paid his or her child support obligations.

“I often say our Unclaimed Property Program is one of the great public service efforts we get to administer at Treasury. This initiative is an example that really underscores that point,” said Treasurer McCord. “County courts have a number of options when it comes to securing overdue child support payments. This initiative has given them another option, so if a delinquent parent has unclaimed property, we can work with the judicial system to seize those assets and redirect them to the children and parents who deserve that support.”

Each year, Treasury receives millions of dollars in unclaimed property – things such as abandoned bank accounts, forgotten stocks, uncashed checks, and contents of safe deposit boxes. Treasurer McCord’s Return Team is working to locate the rightful owners of about $1.8 billion in unclaimed property. Since January 2009, the department has returned more than $308 million to rightful owners and generated about $300 million for the state’s General Fund through the Unclaimed Property Program.

To learn more about Pennsylvania’s Unclaimed Property Program or to search for property, visit www.patreasury.gov or call 1-800-222-2046.

Media contact: Elizabeth Foose, 717-787-2991 or news@patreasury.gov

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