Laurel County Residents Could Have $4 Million in Unclaimed Property: State Treasurer Brings Outreach Event

Kentucky State Treasurer's Office representatives visited Laurel County Friday to help residents find and claim unclaimed property worth nearly $4 million.

The event, part of the Treasurer's "County Roadshow" initiative, let residents search for unclaimed assets, file claims, and get one-on-one help navigating the process.

What Is Unclaimed Property?

Unclaimed property includes financial assets turned over to the state when owners can't be located:

• Dormant bank accounts (checking, savings with no activity)

• Uncashed checks (payroll, refunds, vendor payments)

• Insurance proceeds (life insurance payouts, policy refunds)

• Stocks and dividends (forgotten brokerage accounts)

• Other financial assets (utility deposits, safe deposit box contents)

Kentucky currently holds more than $1 billion in unclaimed property waiting to be returned to rightful owners, according to Jim Florence, Director of Unclaimed Property for the Kentucky State Treasurer's Office.

Worth reading: The State By State Guide to Unclaimed Assets
 

Laurel County Specifically: 42,000 Accounts, $4 Million

Laurel County residents hold approximately 42,000 unclaimed property accounts worth nearly $4 million. Jim Florence, Director of Unclaimed Property for the Kentucky State Treasurer's Office, said discovery amounts vary from a few hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands.

Recovered money has helped pay electric bills, buy groceries, and support major expenses.

Why the County Roadshow Exists

The outreach makes claiming property more accessible for residents unfamiliar with unclaimed property or hesitant to submit online claims.

Florence explained the team visits every county for one-on-one help, noting that scams make people skeptical about legitimate offers.

State Treasurer Mark H. Metcalf said his office returned $108 million to Kentucky families in just over two years, thanks to staff focused on returning money to rightful owners.

New Initiative: Child Support and Criminal Restitution

Metcalf highlighted expanded initiatives helping families recover child support payments and criminal restitution through unclaimed property funds.

The program allows individuals owed child support or restitution to garnish unclaimed property payments from those responsible for the debt, returning thousands of dollars to Kentucky families and crime victims.

Bonus: STABLE Kentucky for People with Disabilities

Representatives promoted STABLE Kentucky, a savings and investment program for individuals with disabilities.

Jordyn Pennington explained participants can save and invest without losing Supplemental Security Income or Medicaid benefits.

Many people don't realize this resource exists and believe saving means losing benefits, but STABLE Kentucky allows saving while maintaining eligibility.

How STABLE Kentucky Works:

• Multiple investment options from conservative to aggressive strategies

• Initial deposit: $25 (matched through a permanent program incentive)

• No benefit loss: Maintain Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid eligibility while saving

How to Claim Your Unclaimed Property

Option 1: Search Online (Kentucky)
Visit treasury.ky.gov for Kentucky's unclaimed property program.

Option 2: Search Multiple States
If you've lived in multiple states, search through MissingMoney.com (note: corrected from "MissingMiney.com").

Option 3: STABLE Kentucky
For disability savings program info, visit stablekentucky.com.
 

Quick Action Plan for Laurel County Residents

1. Search now at treasury.ky.gov

2. Check all names you've used (maiden name, married name, business name)

3. Search old addresses where you've lived

4. Check for family members who may have passed away (you may inherit their assets)

5. File a claim if you find property matching your information

6. Provide documentation to prove ownership

7. Receive your check once approved

Why This Matters

Unclaimed property doesn't belong to the state—it belongs to you. The Kentucky State Treasurer's Office holds it safely until rightful owners claim it.

For Laurel County's 42,000 accounts, this could mean:

• Hundreds of dollars for emergency expenses

• Thousands of dollars for medical bills or home repairs

• Hundreds of thousands for major life goals

Don't leave free money on the table. Search today and claim what's rightfully yours.

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