Find Your Unclaimed Property
Sometimes, valuable assets can slip through the cracks.
If a business, financial institution, or government owes you money that you did not collect, it is considered unclaimed money or property. You may be able to file for unclaimed money owed to you or that was owed to a deceased relative if you are their legal heir.
Unclaimed property often goes unnoticed, but with the right knowledge, you can ensure that every asset finds its rightful place. (That's your wallet.)
Here are tips to help you get your money back.
Know What Qualifies as Unclaimed Property: Unclaimed property typically includes assets that have been left dormant or forgotten, such as bank accounts, insurance policies, utility deposits, and safe deposit box contents.
State Unclaimed Property Databases: Every State maintains an online database where you can search for unclaimed property associated with your name or the name of a deceased loved one. (Hint: We gathered the links for you… scroll down.)
Federal Databases: The Federal Government also has a variety of tools to help you reclaim assets that they may be holding for you. (Hint: We gathered the links for you… scroll down.)
Conduct Regular Reviews: You would be surprised what you might find… we recommend doing a quick search of your name or business in every state you’ve lived in.
You Do Not Need To Pay: You don’t need to hire a third-party company to get your unclaimed property back. Use the links below to search for lost property via each state’s official search portal.
The specific information required to claim unclaimed property from the state can vary depending on the jurisdiction and the type of property involved, however, it’s generally an easy process. Good luck!
Let’s Search!
Official State Unclaimed Property Websites
Employers
Unpaid Wages: Search the Department of Labor’s database for back pay an employer might owe you.
Pensions From Former Employers: Contact the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) to search for an unclaimed pension.
Insurance Money
VA Life Insurance Funds: Search the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) database for unclaimed insurance funds.
FHA Insurance Refunds: If you had an FHA-insured mortgage, search the HUD database to see if you are eligible for a refund.
Taxes
Tax Refunds: Use the IRS Where’s My Refund? search tool if you have not received your tax refund.
Stimulus Checks: If you were eligible but did not receive one of the Economic Impact Payments, you may need to file or amend a tax return for 2020 or 2021. See the IRS guidelines for filing for a recovery rebate credit.
Bank Failures
Bank failures: Search the FDIC database for unclaimed funds from closed financial institutions.
Credit union failures: Find unclaimed deposits from closed credit unions.
Investments
SEC Enforcement Funds: Search the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) database for money from an investment enforcement case.
Savings Bonds
Treasury Hunt: Use TreasuryHunt.gov to find matured savings bonds that have stopped earning interest.
You can also learn how to replace a lost or destroyed savings bond.
Bankruptcies
U.S. Courts: Use the U.S. Courts Unclaimed Funds Locator to search for money you may be owed after a person or business declared bankruptcy.
Individual Indian Money (IIM) Accounts
The Department of the Interior's Bureau: The Department of the Interior's Bureau of Trust Funds Administration (BTFA) manages Individual Indian Money (IIM) accounts for Native American and Alaska Native beneficiaries.
Check the Whereabouts Unknown search tool to see if you have an unclaimed account.
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