No one would mind some extra money, especially if we didn’t know we had it, but it’s waiting in government coffers to be claimed by its owners.
If you’ve ever heard of “unclaimed money,” rest assured, it’s not a scam. It’s real money and there are millions waiting to be claimed.
Do you know how? On many occasions you have opened a bank account that you never used again or you closed it and it had a small balance, or they asked you for a deposit in an electricity or cell phone company or perhaps you have unknowingly paid more on a bill of water.
Or, for example, maybe a former employer or insurance company sent you a check to your old address and it got lost in the mail.
HOW TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE UNCLAIMED MONEY
The big question is, how do I know if I have unclaimed money? Although there is no single government database, there are several ways to find out.
The first thing to know is that you don’t have to pay anyone to find out. If someone asks you for money, it could be a scam. It is enough to have a computer and that’s it.
Start by visiting usa.gov/unclaimed-moneywhere you can find a list of all the places where you could have money and a list of reputable sites where you can enter your personal information to get more information.
BY STATE
Why can the state I live in or have lived in before have my money? This can come from bank accounts, insurance policies and the state government, among others.
It’s common to have unclaimed money in more than one place, especially if you’ve moved. Every state has a database and by law tries to return it to its rightful owners.
Use official state government websites for free searches through state unclaimed money office in which you reside or resided in the past.
Most states participate in MissingMoney.com, a free website, from which you can search for unclaimed property in the databases of participating states. This page will display the states where there is a match and provide information and links to official government websites to begin the claim process.
FROM CURRENT OR FORMER EMPLOYERS
You may have wages that your former employers or your current job have not paid you. To find out, you can find out in this database of the work Department.
You may also have unclaimed pensions from former employers. You can find out at the Corporation to Guarantee Pension Benefits (PBGC).
OF TAX REFUNDS
If you haven’t received your tax refund, you can use the lookup tool Where is my refund? from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
OF BANKS THAT CLOSED OR FAILED
If you had bank accounts that closed or went bankrupt and you have money that was yours, you can find out in the database of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
And if you’re looking for money in credit unions, you can find find unclaimed deposits of closed cooperatives.
OF SAVINGS BONDS
You can use TreasuryHunt.gov to find savings bonds, either because you didn’t receive your payment from the Treasury Department or because the bonds stopped earning interest.
Need to find out how to replace a lost or destroyed savings bond? Find out here.
OF BANKRUPTCY
You can use the United States Courts Unclaimed Funds Locator to look for money that if you or your company have declared bankruptcy.
For more information, Click here.
