NEWARK, Ohio – William Klever has been waiting more than a year for a $6,000 check that the state owes him on behalf of his late son. His story underscores a dramatic increase in unclaimed‑funds claims that followed a statewide public‑awareness campaign launched by the Ohio Department of Commerce.
Backlog grows after outreach effort
In July, the department sent Klever a letter requiring a court filing within 60 days to prove his right to the money. He complied in August, but when he called the department last week, a representative told him another step remained without explaining what that step entailed.
“They are part of our government, you know, for the people, and they should be more transparent about their processes and what their shortages or problems are,” Klever said, expressing frustration at the lack of clear communication.
Campaign sparks unprecedented claim volume
Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel appeared in a state commercial urging Ohioans to check for unclaimed money. The campaign was mandated by the Ohio General Assembly to raise awareness of funds held by the state for citizens who cannot locate their assets.
Akil Hardy, superintendent of the Division of Unclaimed Funds, confirmed that the outreach produced an “dramatic and unexpected increase” in applications. Before the campaign, the division typically processed about 1,500 claims per week. After the advertising push, it received 82,000 claims in just two days.
Department adds staff and automation to address the surge
In response, the department has hired 20 additional employees and automated part of its system to help manage the influx. Hardy noted that some claims still require extra review to ensure payments go to the correct owners, especially when legal proof or additional documentation is needed.
“Ultimately we want to pay out to the right person. It would be a way worse story to actually be paying out the wrong people,” Hardy said.
What claimants can expect
The Ohio Department of Commerce states that the average claim can take up to 120 days to process. However, the unprecedented volume has stretched timelines, leaving some claimants, like Klever, waiting well beyond that window.
Klever emphasized that the $6,000 is a substantial amount for him, noting, “If it was just a few dollars, I would probably let it go, but it’s a good amount of money.” He urged Lt. Gov. Tressel to “coach” the commerce department on speeding up the process.
State’s commitment to transparency and timely payouts
Hardy assured that the department continues to work toward faster processing and that additional staffing, procedural changes, and automation are intended to improve turnaround times. The department’s spokesperson directed further questions about the program’s administration to the Division of Unclaimed Funds.
Ohio residents are encouraged to check the state’s unclaimed‑funds portal to determine whether money is being held in their name or for eligible family members. While the outreach campaign has succeeded in alerting more citizens, the experience of claimants like Klever highlights the need for continued improvements in efficiency and communication.
Original reporting: WOWO News/Talk (Fort Wayne) — read the source article.
