Massachusetts Treasury begins mailing claim numbers for unclaimed funds

The Massachusetts State Treasury will begin mailing letters to thousands of residents this week. The letters contain unique claim numbers for individuals with unclaimed funds. This marks the first time the Unclaimed Property Division has proactively contacted residents with this specific information. Previously, residents had to search state databases and file traditional claims to access their money.

The initiative is part of a new program called Claim Mass Money. The program allows residents to claim funds online without submitting paper forms or additional documents. The Unclaimed Property Division uses data from the company LexisNexis to verify owners and identify those with pending funds. Qualified claims under this new process are approved automatically. Each mailed letter includes a unique claim number. Recipients enter that number on FindMassMoney.gov, confirm their personal details, and complete a simplified online transaction.

State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg and her team worked on the program for several months. Prior restrictions limited the division's ability to cross-reference data to find fund owners. Goldberg stated in a communication dated October 26, 2026, that the goal is to make it as easy as possible for residents to recover money that belongs to them. The program removes external barriers that previously slowed the verification process.

During fiscal year 2026, 61,358 claims qualified for this fast-track process. Those claims totaled $5,203,486, which averages approximately $85 per claim. In total, the division processed more than 118,000 claims during that fiscal year. The division returned more than $226 million, the highest figure in its history. Over the last five years, the state has returned more than $1 billion to residents.

The state currently holds $3.4 billion in unclaimed property. Nearly one in ten residents has funds waiting in the system. The Treasury advises residents to verify the source of any communication to avoid fraud. Official letters clearly identify the Massachusetts State Treasury and direct readers to FindMassMoney.gov. Recipients should be cautious of letters, calls, or messages that direct them to other websites. Claiming money through the division is free. If a party requests payment to release funds, the request does not come from the state. Residents can verify details by calling the Treasury line at 888-344-MASS (6277).

Residents who do not receive a letter can still search for unclaimed funds. Anyone may search the state database for free at FindMassMoney.gov. Unclaimed property includes forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance policies, stocks, and safe deposit box contents. There is no deadline to claim these funds. The FindMassMoney.gov site covers only funds in Massachusetts. Residents who lived or worked in other states can search multiple states simultaneously at MissingMoney.com.