To start the search for your missing, unclaimed paycheck is simple. First, you have to visit your state government website. By searching online in your state, you can find out what the state time limit is that employers have before they must send the uncashed paycheck to the state, which is typically between 1 and 5 years.
This way, you can decide whether to reach out to your former employer first, or if you know to go straight to the claims office at your state department.
Note: Oftentimes, if employers have trouble reaching you, they will send your unclaimed money to the state department before the time limit. So if you cannot get in touch with your employer, and it has been less than 5 years since the check was made out to you, you can still consider going straight to the state department.
Each state government in the United States has it’s own unclaimed property website. These websites maintain the records of it’s constituents’ lost paychecks, unclaimed money, and other assets.
So, if you have held jobs in multiple states and think you have unclaimed payroll money from more than one job, be sure to check each individual state website!
At times, you may find that your state website does not have the most up-to-date data when it comes to what unclaimed money is being held. So, if you do not see your name on the list of escheated checks on your state site, don’t worry—your money might still be there. By broadening your search and using other databases to search for unclaimed money, you will likely find what you are looking for.
What’s more, by using a third-party unclaimed asset search engine, you can oftentimes search through multiple state databases at one time. And, searching for unclaimed assets, even on third-party databases, is typically free of charge.
However, some websites or third-party unclaimed asset search engines will charge small fees. These fees are known as fee finders, meaning that in return for paying the fee the company will do the search for you. So, it’s essential to make sure that you read the terms of service offered by these companies before you make any payments to these sites—oftentimes, it’s best to just do the search yourself!
No matter what way you were able to find your unclaimed assets, whether you found your information on your state website, you found your information through a free third-party site, or you paid a finder fee to help—congratulations! You know you have money waiting for you.
Now, learn how to actually receive your lost check or missing wages.
By Admin –
