Delco Residents, Organizations Entitled To Unclaimed Funds

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — Hundreds of Delaware County residents and organizations are owed hundreds, and even thousands in some cases, of dollars in unclaimed property at the county level, according to county officials.

Delaware County Controller Joanne Phillips announced Wednesday the launch of a new website to help residents and organizations recoup the funds they are owed.

The website lists the funds, the names of their owners in alphabetical order, the amount, and provides a user-friendly process to claim those funds.

If owed money, recipients can fill out a form on the controller’s website here and mail it in. Forms cannot be submitted by fax or email.

Unclaimed monies belong to individuals and organizations who previously did business with Delaware County government and for various reasons failed to cash the payments owed them.

For a wide variety of reasons, checks were either uncashed or undeliverable, and people who did business with Delaware County government are leaving money on the table.

There are more than 750 listings with amounts that range from a few dollars to $8,000 and the total of unclaimed funds exceeds $113,000.

Many organizations that have not claimed the funds are non-profits such as churches, or other institutions.

There are several unclaimed amounts for $70,which Phillips said is likely a payment for their site to be used as a polling place during an election.

The money could be from an escrow for an estate, a vendor payment, property rental for a special event or reimbursement for expenses.

"Our goal is to provide residents and organizations with an easy, expeditious way to receive the funds that are owed them," Phillips said. "It’s their money and, during these challenging economic times, any amount of found money can help someone make ends meet."

Most of the checks were either not cashed or returned as undeliverable by the post office.

If a check remains uncashed for six months, it will be put in the Unclaimed Funds account which is held by the county for a period of time, and then turned over to the state.

Phillips said the County is mandated to hold the unclaimed monies for three years, and then the funds are sent to the state where they become part of a larger unclaimed fund.

Phillips said it's easier for people to access unclaimed county monies while they are still at the county level.

The current listings date from 2017 to 2018. Listing from 2019 will be added later this summer when the county closes its financial report. The list will be routinely updated.

Efforts are also made to contact the individuals at their last known address before funds are sent to the state.

Phillips also warns individuals to access their funds directly through the County or the
Pennsylvania Treasury Department. Agencies may offer to secure the money for a fee or commission but that’s not necessary.