More than $20 billion in unclaimed funds—money that may belong to you, your family, or a company you once owned—are sitting in New York. Millions of current and former residents may be eligible for a portion without being aware of it, according to state officials. Checking is an easy, cost-free process that guarantees your money is always accessible. Whether the money was unclaimed decades ago or last year, there is no expiration date.

Until the rightful owner or a verified heir makes a claim, the New York State Office of the Comptroller works as a long-term holder, safeguarding the funds. You may have money waiting if you have ever worked, lived, or run a small business in New York. Anyone can look up names in the public database kept by the comptroller’s office and make a claim online or by mail. Simple cases are usually settled in a few weeks, but depending on the paperwork, estate or business claims may take longer.

What counts as “unclaimed money”

Most of unclaimed funds come from ordinary events that went unnoticed. Maybe you moved and didn’t receive your last refund. Maybe you never cashed a paycheck because you changed jobs. Uncashed paychecks, insurance proceeds, refunds, utility deposits, and old bank accounts are typical sources.

When a safe deposit box is left unattended, its contents might be sold, but the profits are kept in the owner’s name. State law demands that banks, employers, or businesses send the money to the Comptroller for safekeeping if they are unable to contact the owner after a predetermined amount of time.

Why? Explanations, are rarely dramatic: a new address, a closed account, or a forgotten deposit are usually the Because of this, people who worked in New York years ago or lived there for a short time may find surprises in the database. It’s like the government version of finding cash in your pocket after a long time.

Who is eligible and how to prove it

Someone who ran a small business, worked in New York in the past, or lived there even for a little while might still have money waiting for them somewhere out there. If assets were left out, or the state paperwork was never completed, family members can sometimes claim it—on behalf of deceased relatives.

Until the legitimate owner or a confirmed heir files a petition, the state retains them as custodians, however they don’t “own” it. Officials advise people to search using alternatives, like former names, business names, and any spelling a company may have used, because addresses on file may be out of date. You need to build a connection with a match once you’ve found one.

The majority of claims require simple paperwork, like identification and evidence connecting you to the address or account that is on file. Check old bills, tax forms, or official letters—with the correct name and address.

How to claim safely and what to expect

Finding unclaimed funds is completely free. You can look up your name, look into the results, and submit a claim online or by mail using the Comptroller’s office’s public database. That office can handle the entire process directly—no need for outside services.

State representatives actually advise against paying outside “finders” or services that offer to file claims in exchange for a fee. You don’t need a middleman. Simple cases can be settled in a few weeks after you file your claim with the necessary paperwork. Claims involving businesses or estates may take longer though, because of the additional paperwork involved.

Try different spellings of your name if you’re not sure how it might appear, and pay close attention to any addresses that are listed.