Automatic checks worth up to $250 are being sent by the government to tens of thousands of New Yorkers via their mailboxes. The state’s unclaimed funds program, which contains billions of dollars in lost funds from stock certificates, uncashed checks, unused gift cards, insurance payouts, and old bank accounts, is the source of these payments.
Because of the new law, residents no longer need to file a claim for smaller amounts because they are processed automatically. The checks are a complete surprise to most of the recipients. Millions of unclaimed dollars lie in the office, which is money that has been forgotten or lost over time. Some of these funds are in old bank accounts or in the form of stock certificates, unused gift cards, and uncashed checks.
Why Are New Checks Being Issued?
In the past, residents had to file a claim with the New York State Comptroller’s Office of Unclaimed Funds to recover forgotten money. You can verify your eligibility by searching a database, providing proof of ownership, and then waiting for approval. Under new legislation, the system has changed.
The Comptroller’s Office is now sending checks, each not exceeding $250. Over 70,000 checks have already been issued to recipients, with the majority falling between $50 and $100. This amounts to a total of $5.4 million.
“Our goal with this program is to return people’s money,” said Jennifer Freeman, spokesperson for the comptroller’s office. “Money is owed to a lot of different people in the state.”
How Much Is Unclaimed in New York?
Each day, the Comptroller’s Office returns an average of $2 million to New Yorkers, and more than $435 million has already been sent to their rightful owners in 2025 alone. Despite this, close to $19 billion in unclaimed funds remain in state accounts. On Staten Island alone, more than 232,000 residents, businesses, and organizations are owed a combined $139 million.
Automatic checks cover only part of the money available. Any amount over $250 must be claimed manually. This means New Yorkers could be missing out on much larger sums. Several community organizations, including local nonprofits, have also recovered tens of thousands of dollars.
How to Search for Unclaimed Money in New York
If you haven’t received an automatic check, you might still be entitled to funds. The best way to find out is to use the New York unclaimed money search tool on the Comptroller’s official website.
Use these tips to improve your search on the website:
- Try common misspellings of your name.
- Search for nicknames or maiden names.
- Look up the names of deceased relatives since some accounts date back to the 1940s.
It’s important to note that checks from Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s Office are real. If you receive one in the mail, it is not a scam. Cash it out because it’s your money.
Why Millions of Dollars Go Unclaimed
Many residents never file claims because they assume the amounts are too small or dismiss mailed checks as fraudulent. Others are simply unaware that the Office of Unclaimed Funds exists. As a result, billions remain uncollected.
The truth is that while automatic checks don’t exceed $250, the largest payouts require a manual claim. Without checking online, you could be leaving thousands or even hundreds of thousands unclaimed.
Conclusion
The automatic unclaimed checks program is an important step towards returning funds to the owners. Tens of thousands have already benefited, but millions more could be owed much larger payouts.
So, if you find a check from Comptroller DiNapoli’s Office in your mailbox, it’s not junk mail, it’s your money. And if you haven’t searched yet, do it today. A quick online search could uncover far more than $250.