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Unclaimed property requests: Hurricane Ian victims will be prioritized

ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis said that the Division of Unclaimed Property will prioritize claims for individuals who are located in the counties affected by Hurricane Ian.

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Giving priority status to these claims will speed-up the return of funds to those in severely affected counties so that they can use these resources.

Unclaimed property is a financial asset that is unknown or lost, or has been left unclaimed or abandoned by its owner.

The most common types of unclaimed property are dormant bank accounts, unclaimed insurance proceeds, stocks, dividends, uncashed checks, deposits, credit balances and refunds.

Read: Natural disasters like Hurricane Ian could worsen economic inequalities

Unclaimed property also includes contents from abandoned safe deposit boxes in financial institutions.

The Division identified approximately 17,000 recent claims submitted from individuals located across the most severely affected counties, with an approximate total of $13 million dollars.

Unclaimed property assets are held by business or government entities (holders) for a set period of time, usually five years.

Read: “Rebuild their lives”: Funding available for homes, businesses affected by Hurricane Ian

If the holder is unable to locate, it is reported and remitted to the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Unclaimed Property.

To search for unclaimed property or to claim an account, go online to FLTreasureHunt.gov.

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