Here’s Where Money Goes When It Gets Lost in Boston—and How to Get It Back

More sunny, more money? There’s a government program that could make it a thing. Maybe you’ve heard of unclaimed property, the (confusing-at-first) term for cash that technically belongs to you but never actually reached you. Anyone can have it—your college student, your mom, your neighbor who you’ve never seen, even your uncle who refuses to open a bank account. And yes, you.

We’re here to demystify unclaimed property and help you get it back where it belongs—under your mattress, in your pocket, in your savings, at the ready to be spent on picnic supplies, wine, or trips to the Cape. Wherever home is for your money.

Before we begin, give it a go: Check if you have any unclaimed property (one in 10 Massachusetts residents does!). Put your name in findmassmoney.gov and look for a match to your name and address. If you find a match, congratulations—that money is yours! Now let’s find out how it got there, and how to get it back before summer officially begins.

Not Gone, Just Forgotten

Think of it this way: What if there was a website that could tell you where all your lost stuff was (even the stuff you didn’t know you lost)? Findmassmoney.gov is that, but for money. And yes, when it comes to money, we guard it with our lives, so many of us assume we know exactly where it all is. But in some cases, it can get lost—like a French fry under the car seat or a necklace behind the dresser.

Just like everyone’s lost stuff is lost for different reasons, everyone’s unclaimed property is unclaimed for different reasons. Among the most popular: An undeposited paycheck from a job you had in ancient history, an uncashed dividend check from a stock, or a savings account you opened so long ago you forgot about it entirely.

Seeing a trend? This is where the policy jargon comes in. When a bank, insurance company, business, or other “holder” can’t contact a financial asset’s owner for three years or more, it is required by law to turn the assets over to the state. The Commonwealth then attempts to reunite this money with its rightful owners. That could be you. Give it a shot! It’s free, secure, quick, and at least a little bit fun if you ask us.

In Case of Unclaimed Property

Don’t panic! But do celebrate because if you see your name on the “big list,” free money is coming your way. There’s absolutely no catch. You might have to wait anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, but once you verify your identity, your money will be on its way home where it belongs—under your mattress, in your pocket, in your savings, at the ready to spend on fresh French fries and a new necklace. Until they come up with a website for lost stuff, that is.

Don’t walk, run. Find out if you have long lost money hiding out in the State Treasury! Visit Findmassmoney.gov to get it back.