To find unclaimed money in your name, search the unclaimed property office of each state where you have lived, using your full name, then check the federal databases that match your history. New York, Maryland and Virginia all describe their searches as free. A match is only the first step: you then file a claim and show that the money is yours.
What is the most common unclaimed money?
USA.gov’s guide to unclaimed money says that if a business, financial institution, or government owes you money that you did not collect, it is considered unclaimed money or property. USA.gov guide to unclaimed money lists bank accounts, insurance policies and state agencies as common sources. New York’s comptroller adds uncashed checks, stock certificates and unused gift cards to the list of property it holds, in its New York Comptroller unclaimed funds search.
How do I find out what money is in my name?
- Start with your state. USA.gov advises searching your state’s unclaimed property office, and checking any other state where you have lived.
- Enter your full name. Virginia’s Virginia Unclaimed Property search says searching on its listed fields will locate property and start a claim. Washington’s Washington unclaimed property search accepts a name or the Property ID printed on a postcard you received.
- Check again later. New York and North Carolina both say their databases are updated daily, so a search with no match today can change.
How do I search in Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Florida?
This guide did not check the unclaimed property offices in Pennsylvania, Kentucky or Florida. To search them, go to each state’s official unclaimed property site and search with your full name. Ask each office how long it holds property before a claim is closed, rather than relying on a figure from another state.
Is there a free way to search?
New York’s visible page describes its search as fast, free and easy, and says claims are processed after ownership is verified. Maryland says its service is provided at no cost to you, in its Maryland Comptroller unclaimed property site. Some states also return money without a claim: Virginia says it now returns unclaimed property automatically, and Washington’s Money Match Program returns funds without any action on your part.
Should you pay someone to search?
New York, Maryland and Virginia describe their searches as free, so confirm whether your own state’s search costs anything before you pay anyone. If a paid offer promises to find money for you, read its price and refund terms first. You can also read our Push Button System review. Read exactly what is delivered before you pay.
How long does a claim take?
Processing times vary by state, and some are slow right now. North Carolina says its normal claim processing is about 90 days, but the current time is longer because of high claim volume, per its NCCASH search. Washington asks you to allow a minimum of 90 business days. Maryland says to check claim status if you have no decision within 60 to 90 business days. Virginia says walk-in assistance is suspended beginning October 19, 2026, and tangible property claims cannot be processed until January 2027.
Can I claim money from a deceased relative?
In some cases, yes. USA.gov says you may be able to file for unclaimed money owed to you, or owed to a deceased relative if you are their legal heir. New York has a separate section for claims for deceased owners and estates, with its own required documentation, so check that section before you file.
What federal databases should I check?
USA.gov says there is no single place to look for all unclaimed money, so check each database that fits your history. The table lists several of the databases named in that guide.
| Money from | Where to search |
|---|---|
| Unpaid wages from an employer | Department of Labor database |
| Pension from a former employer | Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation search tool |
| VA life insurance | Department of Veterans Affairs database |
| FHA mortgage insurance refund | HUD database |
| Tax refund | IRS Where’s My Refund tool |
| SEC investment enforcement case | SEC database |
| Failed bank | FDIC database |
| Matured savings bonds | TreasuryHunt.gov |
| Bankruptcy case | U.S. Courts Unclaimed Funds Locator |
| Individual Indian Money account | Bureau of Trust Funds Administration Whereabouts Unknown tool |
USA.gov also notes that the period to claim unpaid Economic Impact Payments has ended.
What should I have ready before I file?
- Keep the claim ID the state gives you. Maryland and Virginia both check claim status by claim ID.
- Have your documents ready. New York says it can process claims faster when you upload documents that support them.
- Search with your exact name and any former names, and check each state where you have lived.
Start with the state where you last lived, work through the federal list above, and keep your claim ID once you file.
