So turns out there's this concept called "Escheatment" where governments will take custody of unclaimed property, like if a check is sent to your previous address so you never cash it because you didn't know about it.

In the US, this is handled by state governments. If you google "[state] escheatment" you should see a .gov website that will let you search your name to see if they've got anything for you so you can file a claim. There are aggregator searches like missingmoney.com, but it didn't list some of the entries that the official one did so I wouldn't recommend it. You should check any state you've lived, and maybe your family too if you're feeling saucy.

I didn't find anything in my name, but it showed similar results by last name and I found stuff for my mom, dad, sister, a few aunts and uncles, and even my late grandmother! It usually won't be much, but it's your property, so you might as well get it, right? Plus in the case of your family you get to ring them up and say "Hey, how would you like some money?"

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[–] innocentlurker@hexbear.net 29 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I recently was diagnosed with sudden onset rheumatoid arthritis right before my 60th birthday. I live in a senior mobile home park with my wife who recently had a stroke.

I need to weed and clean up my yard for inspection, but I've lost over 50 pounds of muscle mass and I can't bend down to pull weeds. I did manage an agonizing session of trimmin my rosemary shrub, but man...this chronic pain and stiffness is all so new to me I really have to manage my self better lol

I lost my job and we live on my wife's social security.

I've been agonizing over how I'm going to clean up my yard before yearly inspection since my savings are almost gone.

I went to the WA unclaimed site I searched for and I am owed over 200 dollars! Now I can hire some people to clean up the yard a little and I have you to thank OP.

I am so happy and grateful. :D

[–] RION@hexbear.net 13 points 5 months ago (1 children)

RAD! I'm living with my mom who has RA and know how hard it can make things. I'm glad I was able to help make things a little easier meow-hug

[–] innocentlurker@hexbear.net 8 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I searched for my wife there, too, and she found AT&T owed her like 50 bucks! It was extra sweet because fuck those guys. Also sent our daughter the link because she came up with like 50 bucks too ha ha!

Isn't it weird that living under capitalism receiving money feels liberating? Like money = freedom. It's so perverted to me but hey, free money

[–] Alaskaball@hexbear.net 7 points 5 months ago

It makes sense. After a lifetime of getting pricegouged and squeezed like a sponge, getting those weasels to begrudgingly pay back something feels empowering. As the kids would say, grab your bag and go with it.

And good luck with what I'm guessing is a HOA or landlord house inspection.

[–] FlakesBongler@hexbear.net 23 points 5 months ago (1 children)

This is one of those things that Matthew Lesko was always trying to tell you about

[–] RION@hexbear.net 21 points 5 months ago

bro got that riddler drip

[–] hexaflexagonbear@hexbear.net 20 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (2 children)

This is the least evil application of this, but I'm surprised a site backed by government data lets you search a name and get a historic address associated with that name.

[–] GrumpigPoopBalls@hexbear.net 15 points 5 months ago (1 children)

in my state you can enter someone's first and last name into the voter registration database and get their home address and party affiliation....I learned this when I checked my registration status and discovered that there is someone else with the exact same name as me that lives less than a mile from me and is a registered republican

[–] NephewAlphaBravo@hexbear.net 14 points 5 months ago

You have to kill your doppelganger before they can kill you

[–] RION@hexbear.net 11 points 5 months ago

yeah I was a little taken aback too

[–] Darthsenio_Mall@hexbear.net 12 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

Bump, this is a great tip. Searched myself a few years ago on missingmoney and I got $20 from gamestop from i assume an ancient giftcard or something. Also searched my family and friends and a few of them had similar amounts.

[–] RION@hexbear.net 10 points 5 months ago (1 children)

So did you just get a $20 debit or was it $20 in gamestop bux or whatever? My sister's property is in "gift certificates" so I'm hoping it's not locked into like a fingerpainting studio or something

[–] Darthsenio_Mall@hexbear.net 2 points 4 months ago

I think they mailed me a check? I honestly don't remember exactly but it was definitely plain old money and not locked into gamestop bux or anything.

[–] Ithorian@hexbear.net 7 points 5 months ago

fidel-salute I've got over $100 coming!

[–] LENINSGHOSTFACEKILLA@hexbear.net 7 points 5 months ago (2 children)

There's literally hundreds of returns in my first and last name.

Wonder how easy it is to just start grabbing things at random.

[–] RION@hexbear.net 10 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I think they're gonna want some actual proof that it's you and not just someone with the same name

[–] JoeByeThen@hexbear.net 11 points 5 months ago

Yup. Did it early in the year. ID, social security card, plus death certificates if necessary.

[–] jaywalker@hexbear.net 2 points 5 months ago

I just did one for myself and I had to provide my social and my guess is they matched it against the mailing address I provided or something like that because the instructions said I would have to provide an ID, but then I got a confirmation saying I was good without any other proof. Supposedly I'll get a check in about a month.

[–] D61@hexbear.net 7 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

You can also claim stuff from a deceased relative but the requirements vary from state to state. Definitely a death certificate, not sure if you'll need a copy of the Letter of Testimatery (sp?) or anything that ID's you as the executor of the estate of the deceased as well.

I don't know if EVERY USA state has their own local listings but where I currently live they seem to run their own.

Edit: Just did a quick check between the site you listed and the site on one of my state's .gov sites and they are.. in fact.. the exact same search results.

[–] RION@hexbear.net 6 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I think it's slightly different in how it gets "related" results. When I searched my name on the govt site it gave me results for my dad that the aggregator did not, although I could still get them by searching his name directly.

[–] D61@hexbear.net 1 points 4 months ago

Good to know.

[–] jaywalker@hexbear.net 6 points 5 months ago

Yooo I'm about to get over $100 (idk how much exactly, it just said over $100) in the mail and idk what it's even from. I'm thinking it might be a deposit from a landlord because it's some real estate company I don't recognize and an address from like 10 years ago. Anyway, thanks for the tip!