This Holiday Season, Every Bostonian Can Have Some Extra Money in Their Pocket. Here’s How

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When you’re budgeting for gift shopping this holiday season, you might have more to spend (or save) than you think. Thanks to a government program, you can be reunited with cash that technically belongs to you, but never actually reached you. All you have to do is claim your unclaimed property, and though the term might sound confusing at first, it’s a simple process to get more money in your hands. Anyone can have unclaimed property—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 more money in your pocket just in time for the holidays. Whether that means you’ll be opting for some more luxurious gifts for your loved ones, putting some extra money in your savings to offset the extra spending this time of year calls for, or treating yourself is up to you—we’ll just help you find the means, and you make the decisions.

Before you learn more, see if you qualify: Check if you have any unclaimed property (one in 10 Massachusetts residents does!) by searching your name on findmassmoney.gov. 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 you make your gift shopping haul.

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. Obviously, we all keep track of our money with the goal of not losing any—so many of us assume we know exactly where it all is. But in many cases, even with attention and organization, it can get lost as we go through different stages of life.

Often, those transitions are how people accumulate unclaimed property. Among the most popular reasons: 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. And what you choose to do with it from there to make your holiday season more exciting is up to you.

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.