NY state has nearly $10 billion in ‘lost money.’ Here’s how to check if any is yours

Who doesn’t like a good money surprise?

You might be owed money and not know it. And if it’s $250 or less, it’s coming directly to you by mail.

A New York state law that took effect last January allows the comptroller’s office to release money directly when it involves smaller amounts. In the past, you needed a state website and a claim filing for that.

That said, many people aren’t aware of the state’s unclaimed funds pool.

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli was holding an event on Long Island on Tuesday to provide outreach on the matter and ensure communities know the different ways to check eligibility and receive money.

Unclaimed property is money that’s been lost or forgotten over time, including old bank accounts, uncashed checks, stock certificates, and unused gift cards. After a period of inactivity, lost money is legally considered abandoned and turned over to the state comptroller’s office, where there’s no fee or time limit to claim it.

According to records, the state is holding onto nearly $10 billion in “lost money” as of February (check a regional breakdown here). That’s across more than 34 million accounts.

In New York City, most of the money is owed to Manhattan residents (almost $3 billion across 5.3 million accounts); Brooklyn and Queens residents each have more than $1 billion outstanding in unclaimed funds. The Bronx and Staten Island combine for about $700 million in “lost money.” Long Island has over $1 billion, too.

Daily, New York returns $1.5 million to people who file claims, according to the comptroller’s office, and more than $163 million has been returned in 2026 thus far.

DiNapoli says most of the money being held is owed to people who are deceased. That means rightful heirs can claim money as well. More documentation may be required.

How to check unclaimed funds in New York

Does any unclaimed cash belong to you? Check here. All you need to do is put in your last name (or a few more details if that yields too many results). Try misspelling your name, just to be sure, if nothing comes up initially.

It’s also worth searching the names of your relatives, especially those who have died. The accounts go back to the 1940s, and officials say you could be entitled to those funds.

New Jersey and Connecticut also have offices that handle unclaimed funds. Those usually involve checks that were never cashed because they were sent to the wrong addresses.

Most of them are in amounts of $50 or $100, but you never know.