Kentucky State Treasurer's Office representatives came to Laurel County Friday to help residents locate and claim unclaimed property worth nearly $4 million.
As part of the Treasurer's "County Roadshow" initiative, the event let residents search for unclaimed assets, submit claims, and receive personalized assistance with the process.
What Counts as Unclaimed Property?
Unclaimed property covers financial assets surrendered to the state when owners cannot be found:
-
Dormant bank accounts (inactive checking or savings)
-
Uncashed checks (payroll, refunds, payments from vendors)
-
Insurance proceeds (life insurance distributions, policy refunds)
-
Stocks and dividends (lost brokerage accounts)
-
Other financial assets (utility refunds, contents from safe deposit boxes)
Kentucky holds over $1 billion in unclaimed property awaiting return to rightful owners, per 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 Holds 42,000 Accounts Worth $4 Million
Laurel County residents own roughly 42,000 unclaimed property accounts totaling near $4 million. Florence said recovered amounts range from a few hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands.
Recovered funds have paid electric bills, purchased groceries, and funded major expenses for residents.
Purpose of the County Roadshow
The outreach makes claiming property easier for residents unfamiliar with unclaimed property or wary of online submissions. Florence said the team travels to every county offering personalized guidance, noting that widespread scams cause skepticism about legitimate offers.
State Treasurer Mark H. Metcalf reported his office returned $108 million to Kentucky families in just over two years due to staff dedicated to returning money to rightful owners.
New Program: Child Support and Criminal Restitution
Metcalf announced expanded efforts helping families recover child support payments and criminal restitution via unclaimed property funds.
The program lets individuals owed child support or restitution garnish unclaimed property payments from debt-responsible parties, returning thousands of dollars to Kentucky families and crime victims.
STABLE Kentucky: Savings for People with Disabilities
Representatives also introduced STABLE Kentucky, a savings and investment program for individuals with disabilities.
Jordyn Pennington explained participants can save and invest without forfeiting Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid benefits. Many unaware of this resource assume saving eliminates eligibility, but STABLE Kentucky permits saving while maintaining benefits.
STABLE Kentucky Features:
-
Multiple investment options spanning conservative to aggressive strategies
-
$25 initial deposit (matched by permanent program incentive)
-
No benefit forfeiture: Keep SSI and Medicaid while saving
Claim Your Unclaimed Property in 3 Ways
1. Search Kentucky Online
Visit treasury.ky.gov for Kentucky's unclaimed property program.
2. Search Multiple States
If you lived across state lines, search at MissingMoney.com.
3. Join STABLE Kentucky
For disability savings details, visit stablekentucky.com.
Laurel County Residents: 7-Step Action Plan
-
Search now at treasury.ky.gov
-
Check all names used (maiden, married, business)
-
Search past addresses where you lived
-
Check deceased family members (you may inherit assets)
-
File a claim for matching property
-
Submit documentation proving ownership
-
Get your check after approval
Why Claim Unclaimed Property?
Unclaimed property belongs to you, not the state. The Kentucky State Treasurer's Office holds it safely until owners claim it.
Laurel County's 42,000 accounts could mean:
-
Hundreds of dollars for emergencies
-
Thousands of dollars for medical bills or repairs
-
Hundreds of thousands for major goals
Don't let free money slip away. Search today and reclaim what's rightfully yours.
-
Let us help you discover if you have unclaimed assets waiting for you.
Start your free search today and claim what's rightfully yours!
