Here's How to Get Your Share of $5 Billion in Unclaimed Funds

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Upper angle view of african american female hands with puzzled gesture holding and counting us dollars from purse and its small sum of money to pay for high prices of utilities and rent — Source: shurkin_son / Getty

Ohioans could be missing out on thousands of dollars in unclaimed funds, and now there’s a deadline to claim it.

The state of Ohio is currently holding close to $5 billion in unclaimed money from forgotten accounts, security deposits, last paychecks, and more. But, a new law passed as part of Ohio’s two-year budget has changed how long that money will remain available.

Starting January 1, 2026, any unclaimed funds reported to the state before January 1, 2016, will be considered abandoned and become state property. Claims for funds reported after that date must be made within 10 years.

The change is significant because the new budget also sets aside $1.7 billion of those unclaimed funds for a Cultural and Sports Facility Fund, including $600 million for a new Cleveland Browns stadium. The move has sparked some legal and political pushback, including criticisms from Democrats and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.

Still, the Ohio Department of Commerce encourages residents to search for and claim what’s theirs. The average claim is about $4,000, but some may be eligible for much more. In 2023 alone, more than $139 million was returned to rightful owners.

How to Check for Unclaimed Funds:

Visit unclaimedfunds.ohio.gov or missingmoney.com.
Enter your name and follow the steps to file a claim if you see a match.
Required documents may include a photo ID, proof of your address, and a Social Security number.
Claims over $3,000 must be notarized.
Claims can take up to 120 days to process.

Ohio officials say it’s “borderline impossible” for a rush of claims to deplete the state’s unclaimed funds pool. But with billions at stake, now’s the time to double-check.