Money owed to me: 9 official ways to find it

Start with state unclaimed property (the big one)

State unclaimed property programs hold more than $70 billion in forgotten bank accounts, uncashed paychecks, insurance payouts, security deposits, safe deposit box contents and utility refunds. When a business can't reach you for roughly 1–5 years, they're legally required to hand the money to the state, where it sits until you claim it — with no deadline in most states.

The fastest way to search every state at once is MissingMoney.com, the official multi-state search endorsed by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators. It covers about 40 states plus D.C. and several Canadian provinces. For the remaining states (notably California, Delaware and a few others), search directly through unclaimed.org, which links to each state treasurer's official site.

Search your current name, maiden name, nicknames, and every state you've lived in — including states you only worked in briefly. Also search deceased relatives if you're the heir. Claims are free; the state may ask for ID and proof of address history.

Check open class action settlements

If you shopped at a retailer, used a bank, streamed a service, drove a certain car, or had personal data leaked in the last few years, there's a decent chance a class action settlement is currently paying money to people just like you. Most pay $10–$150 with no proof required; some documented claims pay thousands. See how to find open class action settlements for the full playbook, or browse the current settlements directory.

Big ones open right now include TikTok's $92M privacy fund, Instagram's $68.5M biometric case, Bank of America's $425M data breach settlement, and DoorDash's $25M hidden-fees case. Deadlines matter — miss the claim date and the money goes to other class members or back to the defendant. If you're not sure whether you qualify, read how to check if you're part of a class action before filing.

Government refund programs (FTC, CFPB, state AGs)

When the Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or a state attorney general sues a company for fraud or deception, the settlement money often gets refunded directly to consumers. You don't have to sue anyone — the agency mails checks or issues PayPal transfers to people in their records.

The FTC alone has returned more than $500 million to consumers in recent years for cases involving robocalls, weight-loss scams, tech-support fraud and misleading subscriptions. Check the official FTC refund list monthly. Many people have money owed to them from a purchase they barely remember — a 2015 supplement subscription, a canceled security service, a for-profit college.

CFPB refunds show up at consumerfinance.gov. State AG refunds are announced through the state attorney general's office — sign up for their consumer alert email list.

Back wages, tax refunds and retirement money

The U.S. Department of Labor's Workers Owed Wages database holds back wages that employers didn't pay — often minimum wage or overtime violations. The DOL collected the money on your behalf, but couldn't find you. Search by employer name; if you worked there during the covered period, file a claim with basic ID.

The IRS holds unclaimed tax refunds for three years before the money reverts to the U.S. Treasury. Check Where's My Refund and file any missing prior-year returns before the three-year window closes. For retirement money, the National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's unclaimed pensions search hold billions in old 401(k) and pension balances from jobs you may have forgotten.

Nine places to check, ranked by hit rate

Not every source is worth your time. Here's where most people actually find money, based on typical hit rates and payout sizes.

How to actually claim the money (step by step)

The process differs slightly by source, but the pattern is nearly identical. Legitimate claims are always free — if a "finder" charges more than 10% (and many states cap it lower or ban them for a year), walk away.

For class actions specifically, see how to file a class action claim and no-proof settlements for the fastest wins.

1. Search your name (and every variation) in each database from the table above.
2. Screenshot or note every match, including the amount and holding agency.
3. Gather ID (driver's license), Social Security number, and proof of any prior addresses connected to the money.
4. Submit the claim on the official state, federal or administrator site — never a third-party lookalike.
5. Wait 2–12 weeks for review. States often pay by check; class actions may offer PayPal, Venmo, gift cards or ACH.
6. For amounts over $600 in a single year from a taxable source, expect a 1099 — see IRS Publication 4345 for settlement tax treatment.

Scams and pitfalls to avoid

Where there's free money, there are scammers. Common cons: text messages claiming you have "$4,378 in unclaimed funds — click here to verify your SSN," fake state treasurer sites with typo domains, and "heir finder" letters demanding 30–50% of your money for information you could get free in 5 minutes.

Rules of thumb: (1) Real unclaimed property offices never text or email out of the blue asking for SSN or bank details. (2) You should never pay upfront to claim money that's already yours. (3) The only fees a legitimate class action deducts come out of the settlement fund before payouts — never billed to you. (4) If a site's URL isn't a .gov, a state treasurer's official domain, or a court-approved administrator (Epiq, Kroll, Angeion, JND, Verita, Rust), be skeptical.

This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. For questions about a specific claim, contact the administrator listed on the official notice or a licensed attorney.

Glossary

Unclaimed property

Financial assets held by a business that go dormant and are turned over to a state after a required period (usually 1–5 years).

Escheatment

The legal process by which unclaimed assets are transferred from a private holder to the state for safekeeping.

Class action settlement

A court-approved resolution paying money to a defined group of people harmed by the same conduct — see what is a class action lawsuit.

Claim administrator

A neutral company (Epiq, Kroll, Angeion, JND, etc.) hired by the court to process settlement claims and issue payments.

Heir finder

A private company that locates unclaimed assets and offers to help recover them for a percentage fee, often 30–50%.

1099-MISC

IRS form issued when a payer sends you $600+ in a year from a taxable source such as a settlement or prize.

FAQ