Billions in Lost Money Waiting for New Yorkers

There could be money sitting in Albany with your name on it, and Senator Dean Murray says it’s time to get it back.

“New York State currently has over $20 billion in unclaimed funds, and some of those funds may be yours,” Murray said. “So far this year, more than $376 million in unclaimed funds have already been returned.”

The money is administered by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s Office of Unclaimed Funds. It can come from forgotten savings and checking accounts, uncashed checks, telephone or utility deposits, rental security deposits, mutual funds, stocks and dividends, and insurance and mortgage refunds.

“People move, accounts get forgotten, checks don’t get cashed and sometimes money simply gets lost in the shuffle,” Murray said. “The important thing is that this money belongs to New Yorkers, and we want to help get it back into their hands.”

The state has stepped up those efforts. DiNapoli reported in April that an expedited payment program had already issued more than 210,000 checks totaling $48 million. The program, launched in 2025, now allows verified payments of up to $5,000 to be returned without requiring recipients to file a formal claim.

Searching is free, and unclaimed accounts never expire. Residents can search by name through the Comptroller’s website, and most claims filed online are paid within 30 days.

“There’s no charge to search or file for unclaimed funds,” Murray said. “It only takes a few minutes to check, and you may be surprised by what you find.”

To search, copy and paste this link and go to: https://ouf.osc.ny.gov/app/claim-search