Living in New York City can be tough on the wallet, but many New Yorkers are getting an unexpected boost surprise checks of up to $250 are showing up in mailboxes across the state. These aren’t scams or lucky draws—they’re real refunds from unclaimed funds you might not even know you’re owed.
Why Are New Yorkers Receiving Surprise Checks?
In the past, if you wanted to claim unclaimed money, you had to find it and request it yourself. But now, things have changed. Thanks to a new state law, the New York State Comptroller’s Office can automatically send out payments of $250 or less to residents without needing them to file a claim.
So far in 2025, this new initiative has already returned $5.4 million to over 70,000 New Yorkers, with most people receiving between $50 and $100.
Where Does This Money Come From?
These payments are part of a larger pool of unclaimed funds the state holds on behalf of its residents. Here’s where the money usually comes from:
- Forgotten bank accounts
- Unused gift cards
- Uncashed checks
- Insurance payouts
- Lost or old stock certificates
- Inactive utility deposits
In many cases, people moved or changed contact details and never followed up with the companies holding their money. Over time, this cash was handed over to the state.
There’s Still $20 Billion Waiting To Be Claimed
As exciting as these surprise checks are, they’re just a small portion of the total unclaimed money. The Office of Unclaimed Funds is currently holding more than $20 billion in forgotten or unclaimed cash.
In fact, New York State returns about $2 million per day to people who take the time to search and claim what’s theirs.
That means even if you didn’t receive a check in the mail, you still might be owed money—and claiming it is completely free and very easy.
How To Check If You’re Owed Money
Here’s how you can find out if the state owes you or your family money:
- Go to the official website of the New York State Comptroller’s Office.
- Enter your name in the search box.
- Try different spellings, especially if you have a common name or if there’s a chance it was entered incorrectly.
- Also search the names of relatives, especially those who have passed away, as some accounts date back as far as the 1940s.
- If there’s a match, file a claim online—no fees, no middlemen, and it’s safe.
Is the Check Real or a Scam?
If you recently received a check from Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s Office of Unclaimed Funds, it’s real—as long as it matches the name on the envelope and check. The office is legitimately sending out automatic payments to help return lost funds to New Yorkers.
To be safe, you can always verify your check or claim status directly on the comptroller’s official website.
A surprise check in the mail may seem too good to be true, but in New York, it just might be real money waiting to be claimed. With over $20 billion still unclaimed, now is the perfect time to check if any of it belongs to you or your loved ones.
Whether it’s $50, $100, or more, every bit counts—especially in a city like NYC where costs can add up fast. A few minutes online could uncover money you didn’t even know you had.
FAQ:
Q1. Why did I receive a check from the NY State Comptroller’s Office?
You likely had unclaimed funds under your name. Thanks to new legislation, the state now sends automatic payments of $250 or less.
Q2. Is the check from Comptroller DiNapoli’s office a scam?
No. As long as it matches your name and details, it’s real. You can confirm its authenticity on the official NY Comptroller’s website.
Q3. What are unclaimed funds?
They include money from old bank accounts, unused gift cards, uncashed checks, insurance payouts, and other forgotten financial assets.
Q4. How do I check if I’m owed money?
Visit the NY State Comptroller’s Office website, search your name (and even relatives’ names), and file a claim if there’s a match.
Q5. Is there a deadline to claim unclaimed funds in New York?
No, there’s no deadline. The funds remain available until claimed, even for decades-old accounts.
