Fact Check: Are States Legally Obligated to Return Unclaimed Money to You? Yes in All 50 States but Only if You File a Valid Claim
All 50 states legally must return your unclaimed money—if you file a claim and prove your ownership.
Category Claims
Warning: 59% of People Don’t Know That Unclaimed Money Claims Can Take 90 Days or More to Process
Most people who file for unclaimed money are surprised by how long the process actually takes. If you've submitted a claim to your state treasury, you're...
New Study Found States That Send Text Message Alerts About Unclaimed Property See 156% Higher Claim Rates
Reports circulating online claim that states using text message alerts to notify residents about unclaimed property have seen claim rates jump by as much...
Fact Check: Can Your Unclaimed Money Really Earn Interest While the State Holds It? Only 2 States Pay Interest on Claims
No, most states do not pay interest on unclaimed money while they hold it. Instead, states collect interest earned on the billions of dollars in unclaimed...
Fact Check: Can You Really Lose Your Pension if You Don’t Claim It Within 10 Years? Only 4 States Have Forfeiture Deadlines
No, you cannot lose your pension simply because you didn't claim it within 10 years—but the real deadline is far more complicated than that single number...
Fact Check: Does Moving Frequently Really Increase Your Chances of Having Unclaimed Money? People Who Move 3 Times Have 2.4x More Claims
Moving frequently does increase your chances of having unclaimed money, but not in the way the specific "2.4x multiplier" suggests.
At Least 44% of Unclaimed Property Claims Require Documentation That Takes More Than 30 Days to Obtain
While a precise percentage cannot be definitively confirmed, the reality is clear: the majority of unclaimed property claims face documentation hurdles...
New Study Found Contacting the State Treasury Directly Results in 31% Faster Claim Processing Than Online Portals
A claim circulating online suggests that contacting your state treasury directly leads to 31% faster claim processing than using online portals.
New Study Found States With Online Claim Filing Return Money 74% Faster Than States Requiring Paper Forms
While a specific study claiming states return money 74% faster with online filing couldn't be located through extensive searching, the broader evidence...
Fact Check: Does Unclaimed Money Really Expire? In 43 States Your Claim Has No Deadline at All
The short answer is no—unclaimed money does not expire in most states. In 43 states, you can claim your money or your heirs can claim it on your behalf...