Queenslanders urged to check: up to $150 million in unclaimed moneys

6 April 2021

Due to a change of name or address, lost paperwork, or simply forgetting about it, some people may not have received money that is owed to them.

The Public Trustee is once again encouraging Queenslanders to find out if they are owed a share in more than $150 million in unclaimed moneys available on the Public Trustee’s register in Queensland.

Acting Public Trustee of Queensland and CEO Samay Zhouand said the Public Trustee currently has over 1.44 million individual entries listed in its online searchable database.

“I encourage all Queenslanders to find out if they are owed any money by simply searching our unclaimed moneys register, through our Public Trustee website,” Mr Zhouand said.

“Making a claim is easy, simply download our claim form and follow the lodgement steps. Our staff can also assist you wherever possible throughout the claims process if needed.

Mr Zhouand said “The Public Trustee had been safeguarding unclaimed money since the 1960s, with the largest claim over $500,000, while many smaller claims are just a few dollars.”

“Unclaimed moneys are funds that are held by certain persons, organisations, or even from a deceased estate that have remained unclaimed by the owner for a statutory period,” he said.

Statutory periods range from 7 days, up to 6 years, depending on the circumstances of the original payment and what legislation applies.

Each year the Public Trustee receives unclaimed moneys for safekeeping. For the 2018-2019 financial year, the Public Trustee received a total of $18.1 million in unclaimed moneys from a variety of sources, such as utility companies, real estate agencies, pawnbrokers and investment companies.

For example a real estate business may find money in a vacated residential tenancy property and not know the owner of the money or where to find them. These funds would be lodged with the Public Trustee within a statutory period of 7 days.

Mr Zhouand said “Many people are delighted to find there is money owing to them, so we encourage you to search online and check to see if we can reunite you with some long forgotten funds.”

To search if there is any money owing to you, the Public Trustee maintains an unclaimed moneys register available on our website.

One PT Client (names cannot be used for privacy reasons) said: “Thank you for your extraordinary effort in helping me claim my money. Staff showed me exemplary compassion and even requested payment be expedited due to my ailing health.”

For more information on unclaimed moneys or the Public Trustee and our services, visit www.pt.qld.gov.au or phone 1300 360 044.