Public school teachers are often uninformed about their retirement system. Teachers have funds deposited into a state retirement account separate from Social Security. When a teacher changes school districts or moves to another state these funds must be transferred into a different account. Many teachers have unclaimed funds in the system.

Internet Research

Investigate your state's school system website for information on the teacher retirement system. In California the program is called CalSTRS (California State Teachers Retirement System). On its website, you can click the "Contact Us" tab. There you will find telephone, fax, and mailing addresses for the agency. Decide which method is most convenient for you to communicate with them. By registering for a password on the CalSTRS website or the website of the agency in your state, you can access specific account information for each year. Update your address so that lost funds can be sent to you. You can also designate a beneficiary so that funds will not be lost in the event of your death. On the website you can also access benefits counseling by either phone or personal appointment. At a personal appointment you may be able to resolve any issues of missing funds.

Direct Contact

Make contact with your former school district human resources department for additional guidance in how to recover lost benefits. They can provide you with useful addresses and phone numbers of agencies in your area that handle lost employee benefit funds. Make direct contact with the agency and provide them with your full name, Social Security number, former employers' names and addresses and the dates of your employment. Inform them that you have unclaimed benefits that you need to claim. Provide them with your contact information including your current address, phone number and email address.

Other Agencies

There are other services and search engines that help people find lost funds. Fortune Finders is a website that allows you to log on and search for public records of funds that may be yours to claim. The site has produced televised advertisements about helping others find lost tax money, retirement accounts, stocks and other assets. CashUnclaimed.com is another search engine service that also allows people to find money they may be owed. The site charges a monthly fee to use its data base.

Source:

CalSTRS

Fortune Finders

CashUnclaimed.com