How to Find Money the Government Is Holding in Your Old Name
Every state keeps forgotten deposits, refunds and paychecks. AI makes the scavenger hunt fast.
What happened
Old utility deposits, uncashed refund checks, a final paycheck from a job in another state: when companies can't find you, the money goes to the state, which holds it until you claim it. People who've moved or changed names are the most likely to have something waiting.
One person asked Claude to search the unclaimed-property database of every state they'd ever lived in, under their current and former names. Another reported that an AI agent turned up more than $1,500 in about five minutes and helped fill out the paperwork, though at last report that claim hadn't paid out yet.
What to do
- Make two lists: every state you've lived or worked in, and every name you've used, including maiden and former married names.
- Paste them in with the prompt below. Ask for each state's official site. Most are linked from unclaimed.org, run by the national association of state administrators.
- Search each site yourself, or with an AI agent that can browse. MissingMoney.com searches many states at once.
- Do the same for parents' estates, if you're handling them. Heirs can often claim too.
- File the claim on the official state site. Keep copies of the ID or proof of address they ask for.
The prompt
I've lived or worked in these states: [list]. I've used these names: [list]. For each state, give me the official government unclaimed property search website, and tell me exactly which name and city combinations to search there. Then tell me what documents a typical claim requires. Warn me about any look-alike sites that charge fees.
Searching and claiming on official state sites is free.
Where it still needs a grown-up
- Never pay a website or a "finder" upfront to search for you. The official searches are free.
- Check that the site you're on ends in .gov or is linked from unclaimed.org before you enter personal details.
- Claims can take weeks or months to pay out. A slow check isn't necessarily a scam; a fee request is.
The verdict
Low effort, occasionally a very nice surprise. Filing the claim is still on you.