How to find unclaimed money from the government

Find unclaimed funds held by the government that might be owed to you.

What is unclaimed money?

If a business, financial institution, or government owes you money that you did not collect, it is considered unclaimed money or property.

You may be able to file for unclaimed money owed to you or that was owed to a deceased relative if you are their legal heir.

Search by state

Most unclaimed money is held by state governments from sources such as bank accounts, insurance policies, or state agencies.

Search for unclaimed money from your state’s unclaimed property office. If you have lived in other states, check their unclaimed property offices, too.

Search other databases

There is no single government database for all unclaimed money. Use each separate database in the links below to search for each type of unclaimed money.

Search for unclaimed money	Database or agency
Employers	Unpaid wages – Search the Department of Labor’s database for back pay an employer might owe you. Pensions from former employers – Contact the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) to search for an unclaimed pension.
Unclaimed insurance money	VA life insurance funds – Search the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) database for unclaimed insurance funds. FHA insurance refunds – If you had an FHA-insured mortgage, search the HUD database to see if you are eligible for a refund.
Taxes	Tax refunds – Use the IRS Where’s My Refund? search tool if you have not received your tax refund. Stimulus checks – If you were eligible but did not receive one of the Economic Impact Payments, you may need to file or amend a tax return for 2020 or 2021. See the IRS guidelines for filing for a recovery rebate credit.
Investments	SEC enforcement funds – Search the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) database for money from an investment enforcement case.
Bank failures	Bank failures – Search the FDIC database for unclaimed funds from closed financial institutions. Credit union failures – Find unclaimed deposits from closed credit unions.
Savings bonds	Use TreasuryHunt.gov to find matured savings bonds that have stopped earning interest. You can also learn how to replace a lost or destroyed savings bond.
Bankruptcies	Use the U.S. Courts Unclaimed Funds Locator to search for money you may be owed after a person or business declared bankruptcy.
Individual Indian Money (IIM) accounts	The Department of the Interior's Bureau of Trust Funds Administration (BTFA) manages Individual Indian Money (IIM) accounts for Native American and Alaska Native beneficiaries. Check the Whereabouts Unknown search tool to see if you have an unclaimed account.

LAST UPDATED: November 13, 2023

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