In a surprising financial twist, over $39 million in unclaimed property was returned to Floridians in August alone.
From forgotten bank accounts to uncashed checks, thousands of residents were reunited with money they didn’t even know they had.
Read: Do You Have Unclaimed Money Waiting for You?
With billions more waiting to be claimed across the state, now is the perfect time to find out if you’re owed a piece of the pie.
What Exactly is Unclaimed Property?
Unclaimed property refers to financial assets abandoned or left inactive for some time.
This can happen when people forget about accounts, overlook checks, or lose track of insurance payouts.
Types of unclaimed property include:
- Dormant bank accounts
- Uncashed payroll checks
- Insurance policy payouts
- Stock dividends
- Utility deposits or refunds
- Safe deposit box contents
When these assets go unclaimed, they’re turned over to the state.
In Florida, the Department of Financial Services is responsible for holding and returning this money to its rightful owners.
How to Find Out If You Have Unclaimed Property
Curious if you have some cash waiting for you. It’s easy and free to check.
Florida has a user-friendly search tool on its official unclaimed property website:
- Florida Unclaimed Property
This site allows you to search by name and location to see if there’s anything unclaimed in your name. You can even check the status of previous claims.
Want to expand your search nationwide? Here are some other reliable tools to use:
-
National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA)
This nationwide database helps you look for unclaimed assets across all states. -
MissingMoney.com
A free service that lets you search multiple states at once.
How to Claim Your Money
If you find unclaimed property, the process to get it back is straightforward. In Florida, you’ll need to:
- Provide proof of identity (such as a driver’s license or Social Security number).
- Submit documents proving ownership of the property (like account numbers or statements).
You can file your claim online through the Florida Unclaimed Property website or by mail. Processing time varies, but it usually takes a few weeks to receive your money.
Don’t stop with just one search.
Here are other sources where you might discover more unclaimed money:
-
U.S. Department of Labor Unpaid Wages
Search for any unpaid wages you might be owed from a previous employer. -
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Unclaimed Funds
Check for unclaimed funds from closed banks or failed financial institutions. -
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)
Look for any unclaimed pensions from private sector jobs.
Conclusion
There’s no time like the present to claim what’s yours. With millions of dollars still sitting in unclaimed property, you could be missing out on cash you didn’t even know existed.
The Florida Department of Financial Services is ready to help Floridians get their money back, but remember that unclaimed property could eventually be absorbed into state funds if it’s left unclaimed for too long.
Floridians are reclaiming millions in unclaimed assets every month, and you might have money waiting for you, too.
Take a few minutes to search using the links above — it could be the easiest money you ever make!
Previous article: Discover How to Claim Your Share of Arizona’s $88 Million in Unclaimed Cash
