What This Means for You
- A record $334.1 million was returned to Pennsylvanians in 2025.
- More than $5 billion in unclaimed property is still being held by the state.
- The average claim is worth more than $1,000.
HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvanians reclaimed a record $334.1 million in unclaimed property in 2025, the highest annual total ever returned by the Pennsylvania Treasury Department.
The new total surpasses the previous record of $272.2 million set in 2024, according to Treasurer Stacy Garrity.
Unclaimed property refers to financial assets that have been turned over to the state after being dormant for a period of time. It can include forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, abandoned stocks, insurance proceeds, and the contents of safe deposit boxes.
System Changes Driving Returns
Treasury officials credited several recent policy and technology changes for increasing returns.
In 2022, the department implemented a direct deposit option, allowing approved claims to be paid electronically instead of by paper check.
In 2024, lawmakers approved Pennsylvania Money Match, known as Act 81 of 2024. The law allows Treasury to automatically return unclaimed property valued at up to $500 without requiring residents to file a formal claim. In the program’s first year, nearly $50 million was returned through Money Match.
Additional legislation also expanded eligibility for heirs. Act 65 of 2024 broadened the list of relatives who can claim property on behalf of a deceased owner, including surviving spouses, children, grandchildren, parents, siblings, nieces and nephews, and grandparents.
Act 50 of 2024 increased the maximum amount that can be claimed using a “relationship affidavit” — a sworn statement used to establish family connection — from $11,000 to $20,000, effective in May.
Treasury also joined MissingMoney.com, a national database that helps residents search for property held by multiple states, and implemented new online fraud controls aimed at preventing automated bot or artificial intelligence-driven scams.
Returns to Governments and Schools
An initiative to identify unclaimed property belonging to counties, municipalities, and school districts resulted in more than $18.9 million returned to 113 local entities, according to Treasury.
Military Medals Protected
Tangible items such as safe deposit box contents may be auctioned after three years, but the proceeds remain available to claim permanently. However, military decorations and memorabilia are never auctioned and are kept in secure storage until a veteran or family member is located.
Treasurer Garrity, a military veteran, reported that 548 military decorations have been returned, including 13 Purple Hearts, three Bronze Stars, and one Gold Star Medal.
How to Search
More than $5 billion in unclaimed property is currently being safeguarded by the state. Treasury estimates that more than one in ten Pennsylvanians is owed property.
Residents can search for unclaimed property at patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property.
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