Claiming Government Money

We all have heard stories about people getting lucky and finding unclaimed money. And most of us, perhaps secretly, wish we could be so lucky as to get in on the good fortune.  But beyond the myth and legend of unclaimed money, are rules and regulations as to how people actually can claim money that has been lost to them, or belongs to them due from any number of financial institutions and government agencies.

Here is a little background for your information.

What is Unclaimed Money?

If the government owes you money and you do not collect it, then it is unclaimed.  This can also happen with banks, credit unions, pensions, and other sources.  Beware of unclaimed money scams.  There are people who pretend to be the government and offer to send you unclaimed money for a fee.  Government agencies will not call you about unclaimed money or assets.  Learn how to spot these types of scams.

Where to Look for Unclaimed Money

Currently, the government does not have one website for finding unclaimed money by name, social security number or state.  To find it, you will need to visit each site separately, and conduct an online search. 

Here are some of the best sites to search.

States Unclaimed Money-- Search your state's listing of unclaimed funds and property. 

Retirement -- Pensions from Former Employers-- Search for unclaimed pension money from companies that went out of business or ended a defined pension plan.

Taxes-- Tax Refunds -- The IRS may owe you money if your refund was unclaimed or undelivered for some reason.

Taxes--Check the Status of Your Federal Tax Refund--You can check your refund status online.

Banks--Search the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for unclaimed funds from failed financial institutions.

Credit Unions -- Find unclaimed deposits from credit unions.

Investments -- The Securities and Exchange Commission lists enforcement cases where a company or person owes investors money.

Damaged Money -- The U.S. Treasury Department will exchange mutilated, old or damaged U.S. currency.

I wish you the best of success in claiming government money.