How To Find Unclaimed Money
If a business, government office, or other source owes you money that you don’t collect, it’s considered unclaimed.
The federal government doesn’t have a central website for finding unclaimed money. But you don’t need to hire a company to find unclaimed money for you. You can find it on your own for free, using official databases.
1. Search in Your State
Businesses send money to state-run unclaimed property offices when they can’t locate the owner. The money in state unclaimed funds is often from bank accounts, insurance policies, or your state government.
Start your search for unclaimed money with your state’s unclaimed property office.
Use the multi-state database to search for your name, especially if you’ve moved to another state.
Verify how to claim your money. Each state has its own rules about how you prove that you’re the owner and claim the money.
2. Search for Money from Employers
Unpaid Wages – The Department of Labor (DOL) may recover back wages for you if your employer broke labor laws. If you think you may be owed back wages from your employer:
Search DOL’s database of workers who have money waiting to be claimed. DOL holds unpaid wages for up to three years.
Pensions from Former Employers – Search for unclaimed pensions from companies that went out of business or ended a defined plan.
3. Search for Money from Insurance
VA Life Insurance Funds – Search the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) database for unclaimed insurance funds.
The VA may owe money to current or former policyholders or their beneficiaries.
This database doesn’t include funds from Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) or Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) policies from 1965 to the present.
FHA-Insurance Refunds – If you had an FHA-insured mortgage, you may be eligible for a refund from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Search the HUD database with your FHA case number (three digits, a dash, and the next six digits—for example, 051-456789).
4. Search for Money from Tax Refunds
Tax Refunds – The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may owe you money if your refund was unclaimed or undelivered.
5. Search for Money from Banking and Investments
Bank Failures – Search the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for unclaimed funds from failed financial institutions.
Credit Union Failures – Find unclaimed deposits from credit unions.
SEC Claims Funds – The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lists enforcement cases in which a company or person owes investors money.
Replace a Savings Bond – Replace a lost, stolen, or destroyed paper savings bond.
For any kind of tax help, contact one of our offices:
Plymouth 734.454.4100, Allen Park 313.388.7180,
Grayling 989.348.4055, Royal Oak 248.399.7331, or St. Clair Shores 313.371.6600
