2 days ago
I-Team: Why so much red tape when you try to get unclaimed funds?
CLEVELAND (WJW) – The FOX 8 I-Team investigated why it seems so hard for you to get your money from the Ohio unclaimed funds.
We've found many people asking since the Cleveland Browns may get unclaimed funds to help build a dome.
So, we took questions to the Department of Commerce to find out what you should know.
Go to the FOX 8 Facebook page, you see a lot of people complaining about how difficult it is to get money from the state's unclaimed funds account.
Lawmakers may allow the Browns to use $600 million in unclaimed funds to help build a dome in Brook Park. Now, that has put a spotlight on red tape for folks like you.
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Melissa Quillin-Grignon told the I-Team she's been fighting for unclaimed funds for a long time.
'My mother and myself have been trying for over a year,' she said. 'I had to email them four times before I got a response they even had the claim. That was frustrating to start with.'
The Department of Commerce told us the state recently put a new system in place to help more people get their money more easily.
'About 30% of people are being streamlined for approval and they are getting their money in days,' Division of Unclaimed Funds Outreach Supervisor Susie Wagner said.
Yet, the state's website shows Ohio has well over $4 billion in unclaimed funds. That includes money from old bank accounts, insurance policies checks never cashed and more.
'If the process has been streamlined, why are we still hearing so many complaints, 'I can't get my money?'' we asked.
'We're walking a fine line of trying to make it easier for people to claim their money, but at the same time, we're administrators of the law. We have to make sure that it goes to the rightful owner,' Wagner said.
'I personally have received more messages than I can count from frustrated constituents,' state Senator Casey Weinstein said.
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Weinstein said he's looking into more changes to improve the system
'It's kind of heartbreaking to hear of everyday Ohioans to get their money out,' he added.
Last week, lawmakers proposed giving the Browns $600 million in unclaimed funds. Money that would be paid back with profits from the project. Since then, it seems everyone's asking about unclaimed funds.
'That was an 80% bump in claims being submitted. Up to 13,000 a day,' Wagner said.
The Department of Commerce recommends you make sure to pull together documents required and follow instructions on the unclaimed funds website, and keep checking for email messages back.
A Department of Commerce spokesperson wrote in an email to FOX 8, 'For the submitted claims that are not finalized and unpaid currently, the vast majority are due to incomplete documentation. We encourage people who submit claims to continue to work with our team when we ask for additional documentation we may need.'
'I would hope I can get my mother's money that she worked for,' Quillin-Grignon said.
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