Here’s a number that should make you both furious and curious: approximately 1 in 7 people in the U.S. have unclaimed cash or property waiting to be claimed, according to the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA). That’s not a typo: 1 in 7.
And it gets worse. In fiscal year 2024, states returned over $4.49 billion to owners — meaning billions more are still sitting in government accounts, waiting for someone to bother asking.
That someone should be you. Today. Here are seven refunds you may already be owed, and exactly how to claim each one.
1. Unclaimed property in your state
Old security deposits, forgotten bank accounts, uncashed paychecks, insurance payouts — states hold it all. Most states participate in MissingMoney.com, a free site managed by NAUPA where you can search participating states’ databases.
Search your name, your spouse’s, your kids’, your parents’. Check every state you’ve ever lived in. It takes five minutes and it’s free.
For a deeper walkthrough of the process, see our guide on 7 ways to find your unclaimed money.
2. An undelivered IRS tax refund
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) loses track of taxpayers constantly. Each year, millions of federal and state tax refunds go undelivered or unclaimed.
Moved recently? Changed your name? Your check may be sitting in an IRS drawer. Visit IRS.gov and search “Where’s My Refund.”
But don’t wait forever. Under the IRS’ Refund Statute Expiration Date, a return to claim a refund must generally be filed within three years of its due date. Miss that window and the Treasury keeps your money.
3. A missing paycheck from an old employer
Quit a job and never got that last check? The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) keeps a database of back wages employers owe workers but couldn’t deliver.
Head to the DOL’s Workers Owed Wages tool and search your former employer’s name. You’ll need to enter your contact info so the DOL can send you a Back Wage Claim Form.
One big catch: the DOL only holds recovered wages for three years before turning them over to the U.S. Treasury. If you’ve had a sketchy former employer in the last few years, check this week.
4. Forgotten U.S. savings bonds
Grandma bought you a bond for your eighth birthday. You stuck it in a drawer. That drawer is now in a landfill.
Here’s the wrinkle. The Treasury used to run a search tool called Treasury Hunt for exactly this purpose, but it was shut down on September 30, 2025.
Unclaimed Treasury securities are now handled through state unclaimed property programs — meaning the MissingMoney.com search discussed earlier already covers this.
If you have an actual bond serial number and want to check its status directly, you can still write to Treasury Retail Securities Services, P.O. Box 9150, Minneapolis, MN 55480-9150, or call 844-284-2676.
5. An old pension you forgot about
Worked somewhere briefly in your 20s? You may have a vested pension you’ve completely forgotten. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation maintains a searchable database of unclaimed retirement benefits. Enter your last name and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
Check it. Seriously. And if you suspect you left a 401(k) behind too, here’s how to track down lost or forgotten retirement accounts.
6. FDIC insurance from a failed bank
If your bank collapsed and you never claimed your insured deposits, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) may still be holding them. Search the FDIC’s unclaimed funds database using your name or check number.
If an insured deposit is not claimed within 18 months of a bank failure, the funds revert to the FDIC.
7. Class-action settlement money
Companies get sued constantly — for price-fixing, deceptive ads, data breaches. If you bought the product, you’re often entitled to a payout. Most people never file.
Check ClassAction.org regularly, and before you bother, read our take on whether it’s worth your time to join a class-action lawsuit.
The bottom line
Scammers love this topic, so stick to official .gov sites. Nobody legit will charge you a fee to claim money that’s already yours.
Spend 20 minutes this weekend running these searches. You might find nothing. Or you might find a check with your name on it.
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