IN THE MONEY: The state government has millions in unclaimed money.
A DECEASED estate worth more than $11,000 is among the thousands of dollars in unclaimed money owed to Orange residents.
The state government has started a new push to reunite a total of $118 million with its owners in unclaimed money held by the Office of State Revenue (OSR).
Finance and Services Minister Greg Pearce said outstanding payments currently held by the OSR range from $20 to $518,000.
“This money could be from deceased estates, dividends, trust accounts, superannuation payments, proceeds of sales or a range of other sources,” Mr Pearce said.
“It’s been deposited by government agencies, superannuation funds, local councils, state trustees and other bodies because they have not been able to locate or return the money to the owners.”
Mr Pearce said the simplest way to search for any unclaimed money owing to you is to visit the Office of State Revenue website at www.osr.nsw.gov.au.
“The website is free and easy to navigate and shows the name of the unclaimed money owner, the type and source of the funds, and in some cases, the owner’s last address,” Mr Smith said.
“Obviously, the rightful owner must then be able to prove their identity before the money is released.
“We only receive the money after reasonable efforts have been made to locate the owner.”
A search by the Central Western Daily revealed dozens of outstanding payments owed to Orange residents.
These included a deceased estate worth $11,857.61 dating back to 2001.
The unclaimed estate belonged to a former Peisley Street resident and was lodged with the OSR by Orange lawyers Campbell, Paton and Taylor.
Other amounts held by the ORS include an unpresented cheque for $1808.50 made out to an Orange business by GIO in 2003, three trust fund payments worth a total of $2700 owed to an Orange man, and unpresented cheque for $2480.50 made out to another Orange man by Brambles Industries in 2001.
Mr Pearce said in the last financial year, the OSR returned more than $9.2 million to 4641 claimants.
“This included the payment of $288,000 from a deceased estate, so I urge people to check and see if any of the money being held belongs to them,” he said.
“This service is free and the website, which is updated daily, allows people to search for any monies owed to them and how to lodge a claim online.”
Further information is available on the OSR website or by calling 1300 366 016.
