While many people have heard of Unclaimed Property, most don’t know exactly what that means or how it could help them collect money they’re owed. This can come from businesses, the government, or individuals that owe you money but aren’t required to or have already sent you notice without you being aware. With over $3 billion returned by states every year, you’d be wise to keep reading with 10% of Americans having money they haven’t claimed!
Unclaimed Funds can constitute a number of different things, but most often it’s one of the following:
-Unpaid Wages
-Unclaimed Pensions
-Life Insurance Funds or Insurance Refunds
-Tax Refunds
-Bank Failures, Foreign Claims, and SEC Claims
With that many different options, you’d think there were a centralized way to check for funds that might be owed to you, right? But you’d be surprised to learn that the government has no centralized way to find money or items you’re owed. This can make it incredibly difficult to find what could equal thousands of dollars or more in your name unless you know where to look. Luckily, we’ve put in the leg work to help you find what you need.
Each state has its own individual Unclaimed Property Office, and their regulations and search functions can vary greatly. You can check Unclaimed.Org to get an idea of your specific state’s site and guidelines. If you’re looking for Unclaimed Wages, the Department of Labor has a very helpful search tool to help you find money in your name. The downside is that they only hold the money for three years, so it’s best to check sooner rather than later.
If you’re looking for Tax Refunds your best bet is the IRS Refund Website, which can help you track current and past refunds in order to find tax money you might be owed. Any other unclaimed funds can be found using the government’s list of tracking services. At Financial Resource Helper, we want to make sure you get every penny you’re owed. So get out there, and start checking now before it’s too late!
