Syracuse, N.Y. – New York is sending tens of thousands of checks out to people who have unclaimed money left in bank accounts, uncashed checks and unused gift cards.
In the past, it was up to people to file a claim to recoup any unclaimed money. But now, the state is sending checks to people who have $250 or less in the comptroller’s fund.
“Our goal with this program is to return people’s money,” said Jennifer Freeman, a spokesperson for New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. “Money is owed to a lot of different people in the state.”
So far this year, the comptroller’s office has sent 70,000 checks totaling $5.4 million, according to DiNapoli’s office. About half of the checks have been cashed. Another 16% were undeliverable. Most claims are $50 to $100.
So if you get a check from the state comptroller’s office, cash it. It’s real. The check will be sent from Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s Office of Unclaimed Funds.
You can also search for unclaimed funds on the State Comptroller’s website. Try looking for nicknames, common misspellings, and shortened names. Freeman said it could lead to you finding your unclaimed money.
Last month, at the comptroller’s booth at the New York State Fair, a person discovered they had a $147,000 unclaimed check from investments, she said.
DiNapoli also returned more than $50,000 to four CNY organizations at the fair, including: A Tiny Home for Good, Home HeadQuarters, The Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund of CNY and WCNY.
Home HeadQuarters, a housing nonprofit, received the biggest check of $40,698.76.
“It’s meaningful for anybody obviously, especially these days,” said Karen Schroeder, a spokesperson for Home HeadQuarters. “I think it just hits a little more as a not-for-profit.”
Home HeadQuarters plans to use some of the money towards painting, weeding and gardening a local neighborhood during their Block Blitz event on Sept.19, Schroeder said. They might also use it to help educate future homeowners.