Saturday is National Unclaimed Property Day. Thanks to a new program, the Pennsylvania Treasury Department will be mailing out checks to thousands of Pennsylvanians who are owed money for unclaimed property.
Thousands of Pennsylvanians will get a pleasant surprise soon in the mail: a check from the state.
Ahead of National Unclaimed Property Day on Saturday, the Pennsylvania Treasury Department is launching a new program where they will automatically return unclaimed property to residents without requiring them to fill out paperwork.
Money Match letters have already been sent to more than 8,000 residents alerting them to the fact that they have unclaimed property and will be getting a check for it. The checks total more than $2 million and are scheduled to be sent out in about 45 days.
The Treasury Department will be returning single-owner property valued up to $500. The Money Match program does not apply to unclaimed property valued above $500, or property that has multiple owners — owners will still need to file a claim and provide the required supporting documentation.
“For the first time ever, we’re returning unclaimed property to hardworking Pennsylvanians without requiring them to file a claim or submit any paperwork at all,” said Treasurer Stacy Garrity. “We truly cut red tape out of state government – and how often does that happen?”
At least three batches of letters and checks will be sent out in 2025, according to the Treasury Department.
The news of the checks comes on the heels of the state’s most successful unclaimed property auction to date. Last October, the annual auction brought in more than $605,000, doubling the previous record of $298,000 set in 2023.
So even though there’s a chance you could be getting a check from the state for unclaimed property you didn’t even know they had, it’s still not a bad idea to see if the state is holding money or valuables that belong to you.
Here’s how to find out:
How do I find out if I have unclaimed property?
Go to the Treasury Department’s Unclaimed Property page and search the database. If you do have unclaimed property, you’ll need to fill out some forms and, depending on the amount, present some documentation. The site will take anyone with unclaimed property through the whole process.
What is considered unclaimed property?
Unclaimed property is any asset that is considered abandoned or dormant, including bank accounts, stocks, uncashed dividends or payroll checks, trust distributions, and utility security deposits. Tangible property, which is held in the Treasury’s vault, includes items like collectible coins, jewelry, military medals, stamps, and antiques. These physical assets come from abandoned safe deposit boxes, evidence from police departments, and other institutions such as colleges, hospitals, and nursing homes.
How much unclaimed property does the state currently have?
The Treasury Department currently has more than $4.5 billion in unclaimed property. One in 10 Pennsylvanians is owed unclaimed property and the average claim is worth about $1,600.
