Start with the unclaimed property office in each state where you have lived. States hold most unclaimed money, including funds from forgotten bank accounts. A search may turn up nothing; a name match still needs to be verified before you can claim the property.

There is no single federal database that covers every kind of unclaimed money. State searches are a useful first step, with separate tools for certain wages, pensions and other funds.

Search the states connected to you

  1. Open USA.gov's unclaimed money page[1] and follow its link to state unclaimed property offices. Choose your current state, then repeat the search for states where you previously lived.
  2. Start with your name. Where the search permits it, try previous names, common misspellings and old addresses. Adding a city can narrow a long list, but an overly specific filter can hide a possible match.
  3. Read the record's details. Compare the listed address and reporting business with your own history. Sharing someone's name does not establish that their property is yours.
  4. Follow the state's claim instructions for a plausible match. Keep the property reference and any claim confirmation together so you can follow up without starting over.

In New York, the state’s instructions[2] begin with a last name or business name. You can then narrow the results by first name, city or ZIP code. A connection to the listed address or reporting business is relevant when deciding whether to submit a claim.

California: a direct claim has no state fee

The California State Controller's Office[3] charges no fee to claim property directly. For property transferred to this program, there is no deadline to claim it from the state. Those rules should not be assumed to cover other states or other kinds of government-held money.

Use the search link on the Controller's website. If you received a notice asking you to contact a business before it transfers your property, missing that date does not end your ability to claim it later from the Controller. The claim instructions[4] explain that distinction.

California's electronic claim form asks for identity details, including your Social Security number. More complex claims may need additional proof. Confirm that you reached the form through the official agency website before entering that information.

Prepare the documents the agency requests

Read the instructions for your particular claim before uploading anything. If a record shows an old address, you may need evidence connecting you to it. New York's documentation list[5] includes old-address identification, bills and bank statements among the accepted records. Other states may ask for different evidence.

If you cannot find a requested document, contact the office through its official website and ask what alternatives it accepts. Claims for a deceased relative or another person have separate requirements; a family relationship alone is not an approval.

Do not send your Social Security number or identity documents to someone who contacts you unexpectedly. Reopen the agency website yourself and follow its upload or mailing instructions. California's fraud alerts[6] warn about official-looking messages seeking upfront payments or personal information.

Check a separate database when it fits

The Department of Labor's Workers Owed Wages tool[7] covers back wages its Wage and Hour Division has already recovered for workers it could not locate. Search for your employer, then follow the name-check steps. It is not a database of every unpaid wage dispute.

For a missing pension, tax refund or matured savings bond, return to USA.gov's list and choose the relevant agency tool. A blank state search does not rule out funds held elsewhere. Keep your search dates and claim references together for follow-up.