Fiscal Service Aids Savings Bonds Owners in West Virginia Affected by Tropical Storm Helene; One-year minimum holding period waived

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 12, 2024

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal Service, announced it would expedite replacement of lost or destroyed paper U.S. Savings Bonds, and waive the normal one-year minimum holding period for savings bonds to assist survivors of Tropical Storm Helene for the following area (county) of West Virginia: Mercer for the incident period September 25, 2024 to September 28, 2024.

TreasuryDirect account holders in, or evacuated from, one of the affected counties can request a waiver of the minimum one-year holding period for savings bonds. They can do this either by calling 844-284-2676 and briefly explaining the circumstances, or by submitting FS Form 5512, available at www.treasurydirect.gov, to the address in the form. Bond owners who use the form should write "DISASTER" on the envelope and at the top of the form’s first page. Local financial institutions are permitted to redeem paper savings bonds that are less than one-year old for bond owners affected by the disaster. Many financial institutions serve as paying agents for savings bonds.

If paper bonds were lost or destroyed, bond owners can complete a downloadable form - FS Form 1048 - available at www.treasurydirect.gov. Bond owners should include as much information as possible about the lost bonds on the form. Claim applications should be signed and signatures should be certified as indicated in the form's instructions. Completed forms can be mailed to the address shown on the form.

To help expedite the processing of claims, write the word "DISASTER" on the front of the envelope. For an updated list of areas affected, visit FEMA's website at www.fema.gov. Assistance for individuals can be found using addresses at www.disasterassistance.gov.