Go Get Your Money on MissingMoney.com!
by Katy on May 10, 2024 · 45 comments
I knew about the MissingMoney.com website, (which coordinates the state departments of revenue for “unclaimed property,” aka “money”) but had forgotten about it until I saw it mentioned in a recent Instagram reel. It sounds so scammy, but it isn’t.
Hmm, I should look myself up . . . .
I didn’t strike gold for myself, but I learned that my sister (who has the same last name) had multiple matches for money back owed to her! She clicked “file claim,” uploaded her identification and is now getting more than $500 back! I was on a roll and started looking up all my family members and almost every name I entered had some unclaimed money floating out there just waiting to be “claimed.”
I found money for a college friend, (who’d used the website in the past, but had forgotten to also try under her nickname) my middle school best friend, my other sister, my niece and even my husband!
You don’t need to enter any personal information to learn if there’s missing money for you, although you do when you claim it. They then send a confirmation email, which understandably requires proof of identification.
Please, please, please try this for yourself! Get that money!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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{ 45 comments… read them below or add one }
This site helped convince me that I am a good person–one of our step-mothers, a wretched, wreck of a woman, was on there for quite a bit of money from an old pension account, and I contacted her to let her know. I have to admit my first instinct was to keep my mouth shut, but I thought I might as well put a deposit into my karma account.
Deep breath . . . good karma, good karma.
good Karma, as Katy says. Besides, when you can share your ‘higher road’ stories here, we all are uplifted and occasionally decide to emulate your actions. You have reminded me of my Christmas purchase for my Son – to give to my rather awful Ex. It was a hard item to find, and I REALLY had a conversation with myself about whether to get it when I found it, before realizing that at least the pressure was off my son (who already had returned an unsuccessful Amazon purchase). Good Karma! Go Lindsey!
A kind gesture. I had several crappy stepfathers. It takes a gracious soul to do something nice for someone who has harmed you.
I looked on the site & found my husband’s business had around 1900$ of unclaimed mineral rights $. He now has to look for his mineral rights’ paperwork. I think I deserve a finder’s fee.
Lindsey, that is very magnanimous of you. Since I don’t think I’ve ever typed or said that word out loud before, know that it’s well-deserved. All of us here know you as a good person. Even more than a good person.
Well, that was interesting! My husband has an unusual name and the site turned up him being owed a refund back in our old (very small) hometown, but the residential address was different. I did some searching and there is another person with that name who seems to have moved there since we moved away. So I will abandon the claim I started for him, but that sure was a funny experience.
Ha, sorry to have gotten your hopes up!
I went looking… and found two claims for my aunt and one for my best friend. I let them both know right away.
I also suggest staying in-the-know about class action lawsuit settlements. I recently received a check for about $32 because my email had been in a data leak in 2018. I recently submitted a claim for two settlements for products I’ve purchased in the past, and going to suggest checking one about Hyundai vehicles to my future MIL.
Hey Autumn, do you have a place where you research class action lawsuits or what is your process for staying in-the-know?
I can’t speak for where to research but I do suggest opening every piece of mail you get. What looked like junk mail based on the envelope turned out to be an almost $800 settlement check – from class action lawsuit against a financial institution where I had one account for *maybe* two years?
Honestly, I search ‘Class Action Lawsuits’ and look through what comes up.
Yep. Hyundai has a recall for engine repairs for certain years of Hyundai vehicles. Hubby’s Sonata is at the dealership right now. When I get to FL I will follow my neighbor so she can drop off her Hyundai Sonata which is leaking oil. We don’t know what the dealership will fix. But if you do not inquire you get nothing. Neighbor picks me up at airport & looks out for my condo, bills arriving, etc. I am happy to help her.
My Hyundai Sonata oil light kept coming on but wasn’t leaking oil. I went through two rounds of oil consumption tests and my car is in the shop getting a new engine courtesy of Hyundai.
https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls to check vehicle/car seat/tire/equipment recalls.
Good for you! A new engine. WOW!
I have gotten a few smallish refunds from our state’s site. Don’t give up if your name is not on the list…it may appear at a future time when more money is located. It happened to me.
That’s pretty cool! And it works for Canada too. Didn’t find anything for myself or family members.
Only for Alberta!
This is the site to check for all Canadian provinces and territories: https://www.unclaimedproperties.bankofcanada.ca/
Thank you, Katy. I know I had read about this website years ago but had kind of forgotten it. My husband and I aren’t on it, but my sister in law was (for an amount over $100) and so was my mom, for an amount over $100 from life insurance.
Do you happen to know if money of deceased people is claimable by relatives of the deceased? My husband’s cousin was on there but he died quite a while ago, but has several siblings who survive.
There would be extra paperwork, but I’m sure heirs can claim.
Good to know. Thank you Katy.
I believe the executor of the estate may file a claim
Thank you!
Last year, my daughter found out from this site that she had forgotten to pick up her last paycheck when she graduated and moved. The university sent it to her! This year I found many refunds for friends and family. Thank you, Katy!
Val, this happened to me. My cousin told me about the site a few years ago and I checked myself, husband, etc. and decided to check my late aunt’s name. My uncle passed before her, everything went to her, when she passed everything went to me. My aunt and uncle were both listed for sizeable sums. I had to get a lawyer, even though my husband is a lawyer! It was time consuming and very detailed, especially since my uncle had nieces and nephews. Probate had to be reopened, the executor was a bank that no longer existed, on and on. Ultimately, it all came to me, as he died first. The lawyer was excellent as it was very pesky work. I think he only charged about a quarter or less of what I received.
Thank you, Cathy. That is quite the experience you had.
None for me. But I did do 2 returns at IKEA today, which feels a bit like found money since IKEA is a schlep and I almost never go.
And I felt rich because I made a restaurant quality dinner out of IP cooked pinto beans, solar oven cooked chicken, homemade coleslaw and free salsa from the culinary department at my husband’s high school.
Thank you for this, Katy! I found two family members on there. I cross-referenced the info on missingmoney.com with our state’s Commerce Department database (a more official looking site) and they each have between $100-$250 coming to them!
Update: I have found several more friends and neighbors. One is for over $250 so it will be interesting to learn the actual amount. This is fun!
I am sooo old I remember when my state PRINTED a list which came as part of our newspaper. Our previous and current treasurer are really good at promoting our state’s website. Also they have gone the extra mile to locate owners of lock box items. AND changed state law so insurance companies have to cross check with SSA. If policy owner has been deceased for x amount of time (can’t remember how many years), escheat the money to the state.
During the years of manually reading the rather large number of pages, found nothing for immediate family but for a couple of relatives and one of our doctors.
Another good place to search is https://www.pbgc.gov/wr/find-unclaimed-retirement-benefits. You do need a bit more info – aka last 4 of social security number. But if no match, a rather helpful tip page https://www.pbgc.gov/wr/find-unclaimed-retirement-benefits/tips
So while you may not know the last 4, an executor, widow/er etc might.
I’ve used that website many times and have found money for my husband and myself and my mom. My sister and brother are also listed on it, but they think it’s a ploy to get the government to find out where you are. so, their funds still sit there.
The government likely knows where they are anyway – tax returns, property records, etc. Too bad you can’t have the money on their behalf!
I asked them “do you have a cell phone? Then the government already knows where you are”.
You bro/sis also fall under the full outage over a National ID yet have said cell phone, apps/rewards et al but insist your state ID should be shown when voting?
We all have Ron White “you can’t fix stupid” relatives.
Thank you. I found five small ones under my name and some more under relatives names. I started the claim process. Will see how it goes!
Yay, I wish many dollars upon you!
Woo-hoo, Katy!
I found two listings for my dad, and each said the amount is over $100. Strange thing is, it had an address that I am not familiar with. I know where the street is, but I don’t think he or his relatives ever lived on that street or had businesses or rent property there. We have an unusual last name and my dad’s name was also spelled quite differently, so I don’t think there could be two or more guys with his name. Wonder if this was a case of identity theft, ie someone else using Dad’s name. My dad’s been dead for decades, so I’m not sure how this happened, but I will certainly let you know how this plays out. Thanks, Katy, for reminding me to look for missing money.
Thank you for the reminder! It’s been a few years since I checked this, and I am now the proud owner of approximately 20 unexpected dollars. I’ll take it!
Thanks! I found two under $100 claims for me from a physical therapy place from. 2019. I’ve put in my claim so we will see. Thanks! Didn’t find anything for my DH or my kiddo.
There are definitely things on there under our names – from an old state that we lived in 20 years ago. And they want proof of address, which at this point we no longer have. Between my dh and I it would be several hundred dollars but we have no way to prove we are the owners
What about old tax returns?
If you had mortgage, it should be recorded. Might be worth spending a few bucks to get a copy of the parcel information from the recorder (or whatever it is called in that area). $10-$20 spent still makes a good return on several hundred dollars.
Or have any kids during that time period? A birth certificate might do.
Thanks so much we found over $9K. Turned in the paperwork today.
Thank you! Found myself, my husband, one of our kids, and a bunch of husband’s family. It”s not a trip to Bora Bora money, but it’s ours and it’s on its way to us now. Plus it was fun hunting!
Woo hoo!