Unclaimed money after a death

There is no single place to look for all unclaimed money.

You may be able to file for unclaimed money owed to you, or that was owed to a deceased relative if you are their legal heir.

State governments hold most unclaimed money. Bank accounts, insurance policies, or state agencies are common sources of unclaimed funds.

Search for unclaimed money from your state’s unclaimed property office. If you have lived in other states, check their unclaimed property offices, too.

USAGov · general information · checked October 16, 2026

a free website, managed by NAUPA, from which you can search participating state’s databases for unclaimed property. (part of a longer sentence)

National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators · general information · checked October 16, 2026

Pensions from former employers – Use the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) search tool to find an unclaimed pension.

USAGov · general information · checked October 16, 2026

PBGC holds unclaimed benefits for people that were not paid when their retirement plan ended. To help connect them to their benefit, PBGC has created a searchable database.

Please keep in mind that a match is not a confirmation that you are owed a benefit, but instead, the completion of a first step of a multi-step process confirming your possible entitlement to a benefit from PBGC.

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation · general information · checked October 16, 2026

To help solve this issue, the NAIC created the Life Insurance Policy Locator, a free online tool that helps consumers find their deceased loved one’s life insurance policies and annuity contracts.

If a policy is found and you are the beneficiary, the life insurance or annuity company will contact you directly.

If no policy is found or you are not the beneficiary, you will not be contacted.

National Association of Insurance Commissioners · general information · checked October 16, 2026

VA life insurance funds – Search the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) database for unclaimed insurance funds for veterans.

FHA insurance refunds – If you had a mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), search the HUD database to see if you are eligible for a refund.

USAGov · general information · checked October 16, 2026

• Retirement accounts and life insurance →
• When a veteran dies →
• Executor checklist →
• What to do when someone dies: the first hours, the first weeks and after →
• The End of Life Planner →