JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida is holding onto more than $2 billion in unclaimed property — and some of that money might have your name on it.
To show just how easy it is to check, we took our Holiday Money Hunt to the Riverside Arts Market, where shoppers walked away not with gifts. but with their own forgotten dollars. In just three hours, we found $3,000!
1 in 5 Floridians has unclaimed money
According to Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, 1 in 5 Floridians has unclaimed funds tied to a forgotten financial account. That money could come from:
With nothing to sell and no catch, we helped people run a quick search on the state’s official unclaimed property website — and the results were immediate.
‘Show me the money!’
Our first participant, Eric, didn’t expect much. But after typing in his name, several results popped up.
“Woo woo! You got $85, pretty much,” he learned.
At first, the company name didn’t ring a bell — until it finally clicked.
“A company I used to make donations to for the kids’ college fund… it’s really weird that I’d have a balance available.”
But with a few online security questions, Eric was already on his way to reclaiming his cash.
Another visitor shared that he recently claimed his own forgotten funds.
“Very easy. They just ask a few questions, verify you are who you say you are, and they send you a check.”
Why the state has your money
Unclaimed property is money that businesses are required to hold for a set amount of time — usually five years. If they can’t reach the owner, they must report it and send the funds to the state for safekeeping.
That’s how Jen discovered she, too, had money waiting — from a company she’d paid regularly for years.
Even pet owners found surprises. One man discovered $89 and change from his pet insurance.
“We’d been paying them for years… but if I’m getting money back, cool!”
Beware of third-party letters
If the state is holding money for you, you may receive a letter signed by the CFO.
It explains the account and how to claim it directly from the state — for free.
If a private firm contacts you, it’s still legitimate, but Florida law allows them to charge up to 30% to help you claim your money. You never have to use them, and claiming it yourself is completely free.
There’s also no statute of limitations, so your money will be waiting whenever you’re ready.
Small checks add up
Carolyn Williams is used to getting tiny refund checks — sometimes just 75 cents — but when they stopped arriving, the balance continued to grow.
“I would never have thought it had accumulated that much… normally I only get a 75-cent check every couple months.”
Her new total? $134.
Not a bad surprise right before the holidays.
This holiday season, a little extra cash might already be waiting for you.
To see if you are owed money, visit www.fltreasurehunt.gov and click on the large “Search for Unclaimed Property” button.