Here’s why some New Yorkers are finding a $5,000 check in their mailbox

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — During the course of a daily mailbox run, New Yorkers might just find a check worth $5,000 delivered directly from the New York state government.

The money is part of a lost-and-found-like program called Unclaimed Funds, which is run by the New York Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s Office of Unclaimed Funds.

Since September 2025, the maximum amount of money New Yorkers could see come through the mail was $250. But recently, DiNapoli announced that the $250 threshold is now a remarkable $5,000 threshold.

“Speeding up the return of lost money is priority of mine, and my office worked with the State Legislature in 2024 to create a way to fast-track money to people,” DiNapoli said in a written statement. “After a successful first year, we are increasing the threshold up to $5,000. In these challenging economic times, every little bit helps as the cost of gas, groceries and everyday essentials rise.”

From January 2025 to April 2026, the Office of Unclaimed Funds distributed a staggering $48 million to New Yorkers through more than 210,000 mailed checks.

According to the statement, the returned money comes from things like:

Old bank accountsInsurance refundsStock certificates Uncashed checks Utility depositsUnused gift cards

Now, the check won’t just arrive in the mailbox without prior warning; the Office of Unclaimed Funds dispatches “a notification letter” to eligible New Yorkers before sending out the funds.

But for New Yorkers who maintain a healthy dose of scrutiny at such a monstrous check arriving in the mail, the comptroller’s office offers a portal to double check the authenticity of the money.

By inputting the check’s Claim ID at osc.ny.gov/verify, New Yorkers can rest easy and cash their funds.