So far in 2026, New York State has returned more than $27 million in unclaimed funds. That money comes from old bank accounts, uncashed checks, and even unused gift cards.
(WENY) — So far in 2026, New York State has returned more than $27 million in unclaimed funds. That money comes from old bank accounts, uncashed checks, and even unused gift cards.
If a gift card goes unused for five years, the retailer is required to give that money to the state. Because that money was never spent on goods, retailers aren’t supposed to keep it, giving you a chance to get your money back.
“But the real message is if you get a gift card, don’t wait too long,” explained New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. “Use it within a few months or certainly within the first year. And certainly the first thing you should do is register the gift card.”
Officials said that if a card isn’t registered in your name, it will be much harder to get the money back to you. The state reported that Chemung County has nearly $300,000 waiting to be claimed from unused or inactive gift cards.
Used gift card money falls under the broader “Unclaimed Funds” umbrella. According to the State Comptroller’s Office, there is more than $68 million in unclaimed fundsin Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, and Tompkins Counties combined.
“But we returned last year about $580 million, and we want that number to get even higher,” DiNapoli said. “Certainly for the Greater Chemung area, there’s over $15 million worth of unclaimed funds.”
DiNapoli stated that some funds date back to the 1940s. He said if you can prove you are the heir to the funds of a family member who has passed, then you are entitled to get that money.
Although a lot of the funds people are owed are less than $100, DiNapoli said that any little bit the state can give back can go a long way.
“If it’s $100, $200, hey, that could help pay for groceries or pay off a bill that’s been lying around,” DiNapoli said. “There’s no reason for the state to hold on to this money. We want to get that money back.”
DiNapoli suggests checking the New York Unclaimed Funds site regularly to see if you or a family member has unclaimed funds.
There is a similar Unclaimed Funds program in Pennsylvania as well. You can access that website here.
“You should periodically check our website. Whatever your search engine is, put in New York State Comptroller, click on claim funds. You could search online,” DiNapoli said. “If there’s an easy match, you could apply right online, and you’ll get a check sent to you.”
The State Comptroller’s Office also has a new program where certain unclaimed funds of $250 or less can be mailed directly to you. DiNapoli is reminding people that these checks are not a scam and should be cashed right away. But, he said, if you’re unsure, you can always check on the Comptroller’s website. Below is an example of what one of those checks would look like.
NYS Comptroller