By WMBD-TV

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced on Monday the state’s missing money program, I-Cash, has returned $20.6 million to residents for the month of April.

A news release from Frerichs’ office stated that 16,662 Illinoisians were given the missing money.

“Putting money back in people’s pockets helps families and our state’s economy,” Frerichs said. “We are happy to return the money to its rightful owners, who can decide how best to use it.”

So far this year, nearly $77.3 million has been returned to 73,659 people.

Frerichs has made it a priority to completely revamp I-Cash. In his time in office, almost $2 billion has been returned. Before his tenure, 60,000 claims were paid annually. Now, 200,000 claims are paid each year.

The missing assets can range from overlooked safes, unpaid insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts or untouched rebate cards.

A statewide digital media, newspaper, and direct mail push is ongoing to help Illinoisians reunite with the more than $5 billion left in unclaimed property. Every six months, the State Treasurer’s Office publishes newspaper ads in all 102 counties to remind residents to check if they’re entitled to unclaimed assets.

Anyone interested in seeing if they have anything left unclaimed can check here.

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