HARRISBURG — Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced that more than 8,000 Pennsylvanians will receive letters this week indicating that unclaimed property will be automatically returned to them.
This marks the first step in the new Pennsylvania Money Match program, which was approved unanimously by the General Assembly and signed by the governor in July.
“For the first time ever, we’re returning unclaimed property to hardworking Pennsylvanians without requiring them to file a claim or submit any paperwork at all. We truly cut red tape out of state government – and how often does that happen?” Garrity said. “If you receive a Money Match letter, read it and keep it! About 45 days later, your unclaimed property will arrive in the form of a check from the Pennsylvania Treasury Department.”
The first batch of letters include 8,366 claims totaling over $2 million worth of unclaimed property being returned to its rightful owners. The first Money Match checks are scheduled to be sent out in about 45 days.
Pennsylvania Money Match authorizes Treasury to automatically return single-owner properties valued up to $500 after a thorough identification and verification process. At least 14 other states have successfully implemented similar programs.
Garrity said, “Even if you don’t get a letter, it’s still easy to see if you have any unclaimed property available. Just visit our website and search for your name.”
Pennsylvania Money Match was signed into law last year after Senate Bill 24 was passed unanimously by both the Senate and House. Similar legislation, House Bill 2092, also unanimously passed the House.
Treasury plans to send a total of at least three batches of Money Match letters and checks in 2025.
“This will be an ongoing effort,” Treasurer Garrity said. “This money doesn’t belong to the state. It belongs to Pennsylvania families, and I want to get it back to them.”
Pennsylvania Money Match will not affect claims for properties valued above $500 or those that have multiple owners or other complexities. Those claimants will still need to file a claim and provide any required supporting documentation.
More than one in 10 Pennsylvanians is owed some of the $4.5 billion in unclaimed property being safeguarded by Treasury. The average value of a claim is about $1,600.
More information about Pennsylvania Money Match is available at patreasury.gov/MoneyMatch.
