The Unpaid Check Fund

On a periodic basis, stale-dated checks issued by Massachusetts are transferred to the UPCF. These checks are initially stored in a “suspense file” where they can be reviewed and a report of potential entries can be issued. Division staff will initially review the data for obvious errors, such as coding errors, coding errors, duplicate entries, and the like. At that time, relevant state agencies may be contacted to determine if, in fact, any particular item constitutes an unpaid check. Where possible, discrepancies will be eliminated from the suspense file by a reconciliation analyst. Thereupon, any unpaid checks that are not obviously invalid will be moved to the active system of the UPCF. While Division staff will attempt to eliminate potentially erroneous data from the unpaid check listing, the Division is unable to make any determination regarding the validity of any particular itemin the UPCF until completion of the claims process, including the completion ofa claimform, the appropriate agencyreview, and post-reconciliation procedures described below. In fact, that claims process may result in a determination that the presumed “unpaid check” does not constitute a valid claim.