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Pennsylvania Treasury highlights Keystone Scholars, PA 529, ABLE and $5 billion in unclaimed property to Carbon County residents
Summary
A Pennsylvania Treasury regional manager briefed Carbon County commissioners and the public on college-savings programs and unclaimed property, encouraging residents to check patreasury.gov for potential funds.
Jolene Maraglia, regional program manager at the Pennsylvania Treasury, told Carbon County commissioners and assembled residents that the Treasury offers several consumer-facing savings programs and administers unclaimed property worth billions.
Maraglia said Keystone Scholars provides a $100 scholarship account for children born in or adopted by Pennsylvania families beginning Jan. 1, 2019, that is invested by the Treasury and available for use between ages 18 and 29. "Keystone Scholars is basically a $100 scholarship for all children who are born in Pennsylvania or adopted by Pennsylvania families beginning 01/01/2019," Maraglia said. She described the program as "a child's first scholarship" that grows over time under Treasury management.
Maraglia also reviewed the PA 529 College and Career Savings Program and the PA ABLE account for people with disabilities. She said the PA 529 program can be used at four‑year colleges, community colleges, trade and technical schools and certain apprenticeship programs. "When you make a contribution to a 529 account, you can write that off as a tax deduction," she said. Maraglia said PA ABLE eligibility rules will expand so more people — including some veterans — can open ABLE accounts beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
The Treasury official urged residents to search the agency's unclaimed-property database. "There's currently $5,000,000,000 in unclaimed property sitting at the Pennsylvania Treasury. One in 10 Pennsylvanians have unclaimed property, and the average claim is over $1,000," Maraglia said, and she recommended visiting patreasury.gov to look up possible claims.
Commissioners and members of the public noted encountering unclaimed-property checks themselves during outreach; one attendee said she received an $89 check. Maraglia said Treasury staff had done outreach at the Carbon County Fair and that the office works with local governments and veterans' organizations to promote the programs.
The presentation concluded with an offer to provide materials and coordinate local outreach so Carbon County residents can learn about the programs and search for unclaimed funds.
Maraglia closed by thanking the commissioners for the opportunity to present and encouraged residents to check the Treasury website for program details and to search the unclaimed-property database.
