Checks are arriving in mailboxes across the state as the Pennsylvania Treasury continues its Pennsylvania Money Match program that is designed to automatically return unclaimed property to its rightful owners.
State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, a Republican, announced last week that this second round of checks is made up of 39,045 payments and has been mailed to Pennsylvanians.
Garrity was joined by State Sen. Frank Farry, a Republican from the state, and other Democratic and Republican lawmakers to highlight the program and encourage recipients to cash the state checks.
“It’s exciting to see so many people getting money they didn’t know they had,” Garrity said. “It’s now important that people cash these checks. We want everyone to know this is a real program and this is real money. Every dollar we return to Pennsylvania families is money they can use to buy groceries, fill up their cars with gas, or pay their rent or mortgage. This money belongs to them, not the state.”
The Pennsylvania Money Match program was approved by the General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro last year.
Under the law, it authorizes the state treasury to automatically return single-owner properties valued at up to $500 after a thorough identification and verification process. Similar programs have been successfully implemented in at least 14 other states.
Farry reported that more than $170,000 has already been returned to residents in his district.
“We sent postcards to more than 700 residents in my district notifying them they had unclaimed property – and I’m thrilled to share that these efforts from the Money Match program have already led to more than $170,000 being returned,” said Farry. “The Money Match program makes it easier than ever for Pennsylvanians to reclaim what’s rightfully theirs.”
The treasury sent initial notification letters to Pennsylvanians in early May to inform them that unclaimed property would be automatically returned.
Garrity stated that Money Match checks will be sent quarterly.
The next batch, which is expected to include approximately 40,000 letters, is scheduled for August.
The state treasury aims to return $30 million through the Pennsylvania Money Match program in 2025, according to a statement.
Officials said it is important to note that Pennsylvania Money Match does not apply to claims for properties valued above $500, or those with multiple owners or other complexities. Individuals with such claims will still need to file a claim and provide any required documentation.
Unclaimed property can include dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, forgotten stocks, insurance policies and the contents of abandoned safe deposit boxes. State law generally requires businesses to report unclaimed property to the treasury after three years of dormancy.
According to Garrity’s office, treasury staff is currently working to return more than $5 billion in unclaimed property, with the average claim exceeding $1,000.
Pennsylvanians can search for unclaimed property online at patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property.
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