Florida May Be Holding Money That Belongs to You — Here’s How to Check

If you live in Florida, there may be money sitting with the state that belongs to you — and checking for it takes only a few minutes.

Florida has launched Claim Your Cash Florida, a new statewide initiative designed to make it easier for residents, businesses and families to find abandoned or unclaimed property being held by the state.

According to the Florida Department of Financial Services, more than $3 billion is currently being safeguarded and waiting to be claimed, and approximately 1 in 5 Floridians has abandoned property.

And despite the word "property," we're generally not talking about forgotten land or real estate.

What Is Abandoned Property?

Abandoned or unclaimed property is money or other financial assets that have lost their connection to the person or organization they belong to.

That can happen more easily than you might think.

Examples include:

• Forgotten bank accounts
• Uncashed paychecks
• Insurance benefits
• Utility deposits or refunds
• Stocks and securities
• Credit balances
• Other checks or financial accounts that were never collected

When a business or financial institution cannot reconnect the money with its owner after the required period, Florida law requires the property to be turned over to the state for safekeeping.

The money doesn't simply disappear.

Florida Treasure Hunt Has a New Name

Longtime Florida residents may recognize the state's previous unclaimed-property program, Florida Treasure Hunt.

The program hasn't gone away. It has been rebranded as Claim Your Cash Florida, with a new website and a greater emphasis on consumer education, fraud prevention and statewide outreach.

The official website is:

ClaimYourCashFL.gov

The Florida Department of Financial Services' Division of Unclaimed Property still administers the program, and Florida's underlying abandoned-property laws have not changed.

How Much Money Are We Talking About?

Quite a bit.

Florida says:

• More than $3 billion is currently being safeguarded.
• Approximately 1 in 5 Floridians has abandoned property.
• More than $800 million was returned to owners during the last fiscal year.
• More than 4.6 million abandoned-property records are maintained and received each year.
• For most owners, there is no deadline to claim the property.

Earlier this year, the state reported returning a record $92 million in unclaimed property in March alone.

Who Should Search?

Pretty much everyone.

You can search for yourself, but don't stop there.

Try your spouse's name, your maiden name or previous names, deceased family members, parents and grandparents, and businesses you've owned.

The state allows individuals, businesses, organizations, eligible heirs and estate representatives to search for property that may belong to them.

If you've moved several times, changed banks, switched insurance companies, changed employers or had relatives who died, it's especially worth checking.

Does It Cost Anything?

No.

Searching the official state database and filing a claim directly with the State of Florida is free.

If you find property in your name, you can submit a claim and provide any documentation necessary to establish ownership. The Division of Unclaimed Property reviews and verifies claims before releasing the property.

Watch Out for Scams

This is important.

With a program literally called "Claim Your Cash," scammers have an obvious opportunity to imitate it.

Florida specifically says that the Department will never contact property owners by text message about the program.

If you receive a text telling you that Florida has found money for you and asking you to click a link, don't use the link in the message.

Instead, go directly to the official .gov website:

Search Claim Your Cash Florida

Why Not Take Two Minutes and Check?

This is one of those searches where there's very little downside.

You may find nothing.

Or you may discover an old refund, forgotten account, insurance payment, paycheck or other money that's been sitting there waiting for you.

Florida is holding more than $3 billion in abandoned property, and roughly one out of every five Floridians may have something to claim.

It costs nothing to look.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Claim Your Cash Florida?
It is the new public-facing name for Florida's state-run abandoned and unclaimed property program, administered by the Florida Department of Financial Services.

Is Claim Your Cash Florida legitimate?
Yes. It is an official State of Florida program operated through the Florida Department of Financial Services.

Does it cost money to search or file a claim?
No. Searching and filing a claim directly with the state is free.

What kinds of money can become unclaimed property?
Examples include forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks and paychecks, insurance proceeds, refunds, deposits, credit balances, stocks and other financial assets.

Can I search for a deceased relative?
Yes. Eligible heirs and estate representatives can search the database and may be able to claim property after providing the documentation required to establish their right to it.

Will Florida text me if I have unclaimed money?
No. The Florida Department of Financial Services specifically states that it will not contact property owners by text regarding the program.

Where do I search?
Use the official state website at ClaimYourCashFL.gov.

 

 
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