Free money: 25 legit ways to claim cash you're owed

State unclaimed property: the biggest pot most people miss

Every U.S. state runs a database of forgotten bank accounts, uncashed paychecks, insurance refunds, utility deposits, and old brokerage assets. Businesses are legally required to hand this money to the state after a dormancy period (usually 3–5 years). It sits there — free — until you claim it. The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators reports the average claim is around $1,780, and roughly 1 in 7 Americans has something waiting.

Search is free at missingmoney.com (covers most states) and unclaimed.org (links to each state treasurer). Check your maiden name, every address you've lived at, and deceased relatives you might inherit from. Never pay a "finder" — the state charges nothing, and legit finders are capped at 10% by law in most states.

Class-action settlements: $10 to $10,000, no lawsuit required

If you used a product or service in a specific time window, you may be owed money from a lawsuit that already settled. Payouts range from $8 flat (no proof) to five figures with documentation. Right now you can claim TikTok privacy money (up to $100,000, no proof, ends Nov 2, 2026), Bank of America data-breach cash ($50 flat + up to $600 documented), Fitbit health-data refunds, and dozens more.

Two rules make this bucket work: file before the deadline, and answer honestly (attesting to purchases you didn't make is fraud). If you're new to this, read how to file a class action claim and no-proof settlements that pay fastest. Aggregators like ClassAction.org and TopClassActions.com list open cases; Owed matches you against the current dataset in about 30 seconds.

Bank, brokerage and credit-card bonuses (real cash, real strings)

Banks pay $200–$500 to open a checking account with direct deposit; brokerages pay $100–$1,000+ to transfer investments over; credit cards offer sign-up bonuses worth $500–$1,500 in cash or travel. These are the highest hourly rates on this list — often $500/hour for 30 minutes of paperwork — but the strings matter.

Typical requirements: minimum direct deposit ($500–$2,500), keep the account open 6+ months, or hit a spending threshold ($3,000–$6,000 in 90 days). Miss the requirement and the bonus is clawed back. Rebate apps (Rakuten, Ibotta, Upside) are lower stakes: cashback of 1–15% on purchases you were making anyway, with payout thresholds around $5–$25.

Tax credits and benefits you probably haven't filed for

The IRS estimates around 20% of eligible workers miss the Earned Income Tax Credit — worth up to $7,830 for 2025 returns depending on income and dependents. The Child Tax Credit, Saver's Credit, and premium tax credits under the ACA are similarly under-claimed. You can file amended returns for up to three prior years using IRS Form 1040-X.

On the benefits side, Benefits.gov screens you for 1,000+ federal and state programs (SNAP, LIHEAP energy assistance, WIC, Lifeline phone/internet subsidies). Utility rebates for heat pumps, insulation, and EVs stack on top: the federal Inflation Reduction Act credits alone can total $8,000+ for a heat-pump install. This is money you're entitled to — filing is the only step between you and the check.

Refunds, price adjustments and rebates people forget

Retailers, airlines, and utilities routinely hold money that belongs to you: unused gift cards, price-adjustment refunds (most retailers refund the difference if an item drops within 7–30 days), airline flight-credit refunds after schedule changes, and manufacturer mail-in rebates. The FTC's refund program page lists ongoing federal refund distributions from enforcement actions — some go on for years and pay out $20–$500 per person automatically if you're on the list.

Escheatment applies here too: unredeemed gift cards, security deposits from apartments you moved out of years ago, and even old paycheck stubs from short jobs all get turned over to the state after the dormancy window. If you moved a lot in your 20s, the payoff can be substantial. Check every state you've lived in, not just your current one.

1. List every state you've lived, worked or held an account in.
2. Search each state treasurer's site plus missingmoney.com under all name variations.
3. Pull the last 3 years of receipts and check for missed price adjustments and rebates.
4. Log into old airline, retail and utility accounts to check for stranded credits.
5. File the state claim (free) and any pending rebates before their windows close.

"Earn" apps: real but low-wage, so calibrate expectations

Survey sites, cashback games, and offer walls (Swagbucks, InboxDollars, KashKick, plus the Earn tab inside apps like Owed) pay real cash — but the effective rate is usually $3–$8/hour. They work best as a way to convert dead time (waiting rooms, TV commercials) into small deposits, not as a job replacement. Payout thresholds range from $1 to $30, and PayPal or gift-card cashouts typically hit in 1–7 days.

Watch for two traps: (1) offers that require a paid subscription or credit-card signup — the payout is often less than the fee, and (2) surveys that disqualify you halfway through with no partial credit. Stick to sites that show the reward before you start and pay via a method you already use. Anything promising "$500/day watching videos" is not legit; report it to the FTC.

How to tell free money from a scam

Real free-money sources share three traits: they're free to claim, they identify themselves clearly, and they never ask for gift cards, crypto, or your full Social Security number over email. Government agencies (IRS, state treasurers, FTC) will never call demanding immediate payment or threatening arrest. Settlement administrators contact class members by physical mail or a clearly branded email from a known domain (kroll.com, epiqglobal.com, angeiongroup.com).

If you're unsure a settlement is real, cross-check the case name at CourtListener or the administrator's site. For unclaimed property, only use links from unclaimed.org. Owed exists to consolidate the legit stuff in one place — see what you're owed in about 30 seconds, or read the primers on how class actions work and who's eligible before you file.

Glossary

Unclaimed property

Money or assets a business turned over to the state after a dormancy period (usually 3–5 years) because they couldn't reach the owner.

Escheatment

The legal process by which forgotten funds are transferred to state custody until the rightful owner claims them.

Class member

A person who fits a settled lawsuit's defined group — e.g., anyone who used TikTok in the U.S. during a specific date range.

Claim deadline

The last date to submit a claim form. Miss it and you forfeit the payout, even if you're clearly eligible.

Direct deposit requirement

A bank-bonus condition requiring recurring electronic deposits (usually payroll) hitting the account within a set window.

EITC

Earned Income Tax Credit — a refundable federal credit for low-to-moderate income workers, worth up to $7,830 for tax year 2025.

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