By Kristy Tallman, May 20, 2024
Maine, USA — A call to action has been issued by Governor Janet Mills and Maine State Treasurer Henry Beck to ensure that Maine residents receive their rightful pandemic-era relief funds. With approximately 40,000 unclaimed relief payments, totaling about $19 million, still available through Maine’s Unclaimed Property program, the officials are urging individuals to verify if they are owed money.
Amidst the challenges brought forth by the pandemic, Governor Mills, in collaboration with the Legislature, initiated various relief payment programs aimed at alleviating financial burdens for Maine residents. Despite the distribution of nearly 2.3 million payments, a fraction amounting to nearly 2 percent remains unclaimed.
Governor Mills emphasized the importance of returning this money directly to the people of Maine, stating, “My Administration worked with the Legislature to deliver multiple relief payments to Maine people to help them through the economic hardships caused by the pandemic. Now, like then, we want to make sure that money goes directly back into the pockets of Maine people.”
Treasurer Beck echoed this sentiment, highlighting that over 98 percent of the relief funds had reached their intended recipients. However, the focus now shifts towards ensuring that the remaining payments are claimed by their rightful owners through the state’s unclaimed property system.
To facilitate the process, individuals can visit the Maine Unclaimed Property program’s website or contact them directly. The website address is www.maineunclaimedproperty.gov, and the contact number is (207) 624-7470. Importantly, this service is offered free of charge to all Maine residents
The relief payments were authorized as part of efforts to address the economic challenges posed by the pandemic. Three direct relief payments were disbursed in successive years, targeting different aspects of financial strain experienced by Maine residents.
In 2021, a $285 Disaster Relief Payment was issued to 524,912 Maine residents who worked during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, 876,283 individuals received $850 checks to mitigate the effects of pandemic-induced inflation. Subsequently, in 2023, 877,129 Maine taxpayers were provided with $450 each to cope with soaring energy costs under Governor Mills’ Emergency Energy Relief Plan.
In conclusion, Governor Mills and Treasurer Beck urge Maine residents to check if they are owed any unclaimed relief payments or other unclaimed property held by the state. This initiative aims to ensure that all eligible individuals receive the financial assistance they are entitled to during these challenging times.
By Kristy Tallman, May 20, 2024
The Republic News
Source: Office of the Governor, Janet Mills, Maine
