Treasury Department sends 80K surprise checks to Americans

Tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians will soon find “good news” in their mailboxes, thanks to the Pennsylvania Treasury. Knewz.com has learned that the Treasury announced it will send out 80,000 checks later in 2025 as part of its new Money Match program, which automatically returns unclaimed property to eligible residents. Letters notifying recipients are expected to arrive in September.

The Money Match program

Money Match was signed into law last year after unanimous approval from the Pennsylvania General Assembly and Governor Josh Shapiro. The program allows the Treasury to return unclaimed property valued at $500 or less automatically. Once residents are identified as the rightful owners, checks are mailed without requiring an application. “Money Match is a new way for the Pennsylvania Treasury Department to return unclaimed property to its rightful owners! It’s a law that was supported unanimously by the General Assembly and signed into law by the governor. When Treasury identifies people with unclaimed property that meets the law’s requirements, we will automatically return it to you!” the official Pennsylvania Treasury website reads.

What does ‘unclaimed property’ entail?

The Pennsylvania Treasury website explains that unclaimed property can be “old bank accounts, uncashed paychecks, insurance payments, rebates – the list is virtually endless.” Pennsylvania State Treasurer Stacy Garrity said in a statement that her team is working to return more than $4.5 billion in unclaimed property. “This is money that belongs to people just like you, and we want to return it. More than 1 in 10 Pennsylvanians has unclaimed property available to be claimed!” the state Treasury website states.

When can residents expect the payment?

The Treasury said residents who qualify for Money Match should begin receiving letters in September notifying them that checks are on the way. They will receive their checks 45 days after the letters arrive. The Treasury website states, “If you receive a letter from the Pennsylvania Treasury Department indicating that you have money coming thanks to Money Match, hold on to it! You should receive your check about 45 days later.”

How to submit claims over $500 to the Treasury

While the Money Match program is unique to Pennsylvania, unclaimed property programs exist in every state. For Pennsylvanians, claims over $500 must be submitted through the state Treasury’s official website. For residents living outside Pennsylvania, unclaimed funds can be checked at missingmoney.com or unclaimed.org, both of which connect users with state-run databases.

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