Business

Some States Now Mail Unclaimed Money Back Automatically, With No Claim to File. How to Tell If the Check Is Real

By Mike Harper · October 25, 2026

For years, getting back a forgotten bank balance or an uncashed refund meant searching a state database, filling out a form and mailing in proof of identity. A growing number of states now skip most of that for simple cases. They match their unclaimed property records against other state records and mail the owner a check.

The money comes from accounts that companies lost track of. The Delaware Department of Finance says unclaimed property can include old bank accounts, uncashed paychecks, unreturned utility deposits, uncollected insurance payments and forgotten stocks and dividends. Businesses must turn those amounts over to the state after a period with no contact from the owner.

Here is how several of the automatic programs work, according to the states that run them.

Delaware. Its Money Match program began in 2021 and runs each September. Eligible taxpayers get a check in the mail without filing a claim, based on a match with their most recent personal income tax return. “All MONEY MATCH recipients have to do is cash the check,” State Escheator Brenda R. Mayrack said in the department’s announcement.

Iowa. The State Treasurer’s Office says Money Match cross references data from the Iowa Department of Revenue, using the name and address on a person’s most recent state income tax filing. The office first mails a letter to confirm the address is current. If that letter isn’t returned, a check follows about three weeks later.

Illinois. The Treasurer’s Office says its Enhanced Money Match program compares unclaimed property records with information from other state agencies. A matched owner receives a letter explaining the amount and source, then a check. The office says there is no fee to receive the property.

Pennsylvania. Under a 2024 law, the state Treasury says it can return unclaimed property worth up to $500 belonging to a single owner automatically, without a search or a claim. Larger amounts, or property with more than one owner, still require a claim with documents.

New York. The State Comptroller’s office says its Expedited Payment Program, launched in January 2025, raised its cap this spring from $250 to as much as $5,000. A notification letter arrives first, followed by the check.

Not everything qualifies. Illinois says property with multiple owners, stocks or bonds, escrow accounts and safe deposit box contents may not be returned automatically. New York says estate claims don’t qualify for expedited payment, which matters for families settling a late parent’s affairs. Delaware urges residents to keep searching on their own because not all types of property are included.

A letter or check from a state treasurer can look too good to be true, and scammers know it. A few checks help. New York says recipients can verify a check by entering its Claim ID at osc.ny.gov/verify. Illinois suggests calling or emailing its Treasurer’s Office, or a state legislator’s office, to confirm a letter. The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators says it is always free to search for and claim money through official state programs, and a message asking for a fee may come from a third-party finder.

It still pays to look. Because Delaware and Iowa match against state income tax records, people who have moved or no longer file a return in a state may not be matched automatically. Delaware notes that MissingMoney.com, sponsored by the administrators’ association, lets people search nearly every state at once at no cost.

This article is for general information and is not financial or legal advice. Contact your state’s official unclaimed property office with questions about a letter, check or claim. This article was produced with the assistance of AI and fact-checked against the sources cited by LightWave Reports.