Your current and former states of residence may have free money waiting for you — here’s how to find out

Show me the money.

Billions of dollars are waiting to be claimed, and states around the US can’t get rid of it. All throughout the 50 states, unclaimed cash or financial assets sit inactive after being turned over to the state unclaimed property programs.

The outstanding funds include things like uncashed checks from corporations, financial institutions, banks, insurance companies, inactive stock, or even unclaimed safety deposit boxes. While the money is yours, it’s only the state’s job to safeguard it. 

If you’re owed green, businesses are legally required to return it. However, on the off chance that they cannot reach you, it will be turned over to the state, where the property waits for you to claim it.

MissingMoney is a partnership with the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators and a free site to check if you have any lost funds. According to their site, one in seven people have unclaimed property, and $2,080 is the average check folks get back.

It’s simple: head to the MissingMoney website and enter your first and last name and click search. A trove of people with your name will pop up with address and the amount you are owed, so it’s best to filter using your location. Once you see what looks like you, select the claim tab on the left and file your claim.

Many states also have their own websites that folks can use; just search your state and unclaimed funds, and a website will likely pop up. Just note that some states will actually auction off any unclaimed items if they are not collected in time.

For example, Florida will hold an auction on August 7 and 8 where unclaimed gold, coins, and watches will be up for grabs. North Carolina recently auctioned off cash, safe deposit boxes, and more earlier this year, as they have a five-year deadline on claiming.

Louisiana just had a historic return as the Department of Treasury announced $70.9 million was refunded to their owners with an average payout of $900. Meanwhile, the largest check returned was over $400,000.

Ohio residents have 10 years to claim what’s rightfully theirs, as the state has a whopping $4.8 billion waiting to be distributed. The Buckeye State is gearing up to push out both digital and traditional broadcast ads on radio and television to spread the word that cash is waiting for their residents.

Just last year, the state returned over $149.6 million to Ohioans through more than 67,800 claims. “Our goal is simple: we want every Ohioan to know that if they’ve left something behind, we’re here to help them get it back,” said Division Superintendent Akil Hardy.

Back in 2025, New Yorkers found themselves cashing $250 checks under a new law putting the onus on the state and not the resident. The newly passed bill means any unclaimed green is automatically sent to residents without the hassle of them needing to request it.

This includes funds from old bank accounts, investments, gift cards and insurance checks that were handed over to the state after lying dormant for too long. Just note that automatic checks sent will only be for unclaimed funds of $250 or less. Folks with more than that amount will need to file a claim.