Does Washington State have money available for you?

Yakima, Wash. – Washington residents may be surprised to learn that the state has about $2.2 billion in unclaimed property, including deposits, uncashed paychecks and forgotten property. This issue affects residents across the state, not just those in Yakima.

While the department cannot provide the exact amount of Yakima residents’ unclaimed property, officials emphasize that funds are likely available.

Washington’s unclaimed property program collected a record $365 million in forgotten funds between July 2023 and June 2024. Joe Gisler, Treasury Department’s unclaimed property claims and outreach manager, encourages residents to research potential claims by visiting https://claimyourcash.org/

“Unclaimed property can really be any type of property. It could be a bank account, a dishonored check or a money order,” Gisler explained. “Anytime a company owes you money, they have to send it to the state of Washington as unclaimed property.”

Last year, $154 million in unclaimed property was returned, a recovery rate of 42%. Gisler attributes the 11% increase to growing public awareness.

“More and more companies and organizations are reporting unclaimed property, and the more money we receive, the more money we can recover,” Gisler said.

The Money Match program, launched in 2023, makes a significant contribution to this success.

“This program automatically returns unclaimed property to Washingtonians after the property has been verified, without the owner having to file a claim or submit any paperwork.”

The Treasury Department actively promotes awareness of unclaimed property through advertising, including commercials during Mariners games, and outreach at various events throughout Washington.

“We have a few finders on my team whose primary job is to advertise unclaimed property and reach out to individuals,” Gisler said. “They look at our highest dollar amounts and get people to file claims.”

Residents are advised to be wary of possible scams related to unclaimed property. Gisler emphasized the legitimacy of the program, stating: “We will not charge you for returning unclaimed property. It’s important for people to know that we are a government program focused on consumer protection.”

To check if you have unclaimed property, visit Claimyourcash.org and enter your information. It is recommended to check the property regularly as new unclaimed properties are added throughout the year. Even if you don’t find any claims today, funds could be waiting for you in the future.