Treasurer Stacy Garrity Announces Return of More Than $14,000 in Unclaimed Property to Erie VA Medical Center
Erie, PA - Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced today that more than $14,000 in unclaimed property has been returned to the Erie VA Medical Center (VAMC).
“I’m always thrilled to return unclaimed property, but this particular return is near and dear to my heart. VA Medical Centers are entrusted with the care of our Veterans, true heroes who gave of themselves to serve their country. As a Veteran, and the daughter of two Veterans, I understand how important the VA medical system is. I’m glad to get this money back where it belongs.”
Pennsylvania State Treasurer Stacy Garrity
The Erie VAMC has served 21,528 Veterans from a nine-county area this year, including 266,527 outpatient visits and 1,806 surgeries. Health care services are provided at six locations, including the medical center (hospital) at 135 E. 38th St. in Erie and five community-based outpatient clinics in Bradford, Franklin, Meadville, and Warren, Pennsylvania, and in Ashtabula, Ohio.
The $14,448.58 returned to the Erie VAMC includes 10 individual properties ranging in value from $53.98 to $5,873.49. The oldest property dates back to 2013, while the most recent is from 2018. Properties returned include funds from accounts payable checks, credit balances, and refund/rebates.
In the last fiscal year, ending June 30, 2023, Treasury returned the most unclaimed property ever in a single year – almost $274 million.
Treasury is working to return more than $4.5 billion in unclaimed property to its rightful owners. More than one in ten Pennsylvanians is owed unclaimed property, and the average claim is worth about $1,600.
Unclaimed property can include dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance policies, contents of forgotten safe deposit boxes and more. State law requires businesses to report unclaimed property to Treasury after three years of dormancy.
Treasury keeps tangible unclaimed property for about three years before it is auctioned. Auction proceeds are kept in perpetuity for owners to claim.
Military decorations and memorabilia are never auctioned. Since taking office, Treasurer Garrity has returned 397 military decorations, including 8 Purple Hearts and 3 Bronze Stars. About 450 items remain in Treasury’s vault. Anyone can search the dedicated military database at patreausury.gov/unclaimed-property/medals.
“Making sure military items get back to the veterans who earned them or their families is just one way to show our gratitude for their honorable service to our country. To me, these priceless medals are the most valuable items we safeguard in our vault – and we’ll never stop looking for the rightful owners.”
Pennsylvania State Treasurer Stacy Garrity
To learn more about unclaimed property or to search Treasury’s database, visit patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property.
