The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators says that about one in ten people has unclaimed cash or property held by state governments. These funds could be money from a forgotten savings or checking account, refunds, uncashed payroll checks, rental or utility security deposits, or even contents of safe-deposit boxes.
Search for your name in the state where you live (and states where you used to live or go to school too). It’s as easy as visiting Unclaimed.org to find and search your state’s directory for unclaimed funds.
The process for filing a claim depends on your state and the type of property, but you’ll have to provide proof of identification and ownership, which could mean a pay stub or an old utility bill. Some states process unclaimed property claims in thirty days or fewer, but some take longer; you’ll probably get a check in the mail unless you’re getting actual property from your state.
Resist the urge to spend your “surprise” money on something fun, and instead deposit those funds into your debt bills. If you were “missing” any money, you probably won’t be able to try this tactic repeatedly, but the one-time injection of funding toward your debt could shorten your payoff timeline by just a bit.