Pennsylvania residents missing out on forgotten funds have multiple state and federal avenues to locate unclaimed assets, ranging from dormant bank accounts to uncollected life insurance policies. State agencies and consumer tracking tools report returning hundreds of millions of dollars to consumers annually.
Under state law, all companies selling life insurance policies in Pennsylvania are required to participate in a state-managed search service. The registry helps beneficiaries connect with policy proceeds that might otherwise remain unclaimed after a relative’s death.
The Pennsylvania Insurance Department helped connect 4,700 Pennsylvanians to more than $116 million in lost life insurance benefits and annuities last year. Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Mike Humphreys highlighted the challenges families face when sorting through financial paperwork. “It’s hard to lose a loved one, and going through all those financial records can be a challenge,” Humphreys said. “You’re not always going to find them. But with this service you are able to connect in this case to millions of dollars.”
To use the service, consumers submit a search form directly to the state insurance department. “If the person applying to us says I think I was a beneficiary to my mom’s policy, my grandma’s policy, my loved one’s policy and then the insurance company finds that person is a beneficiary, they will reach out directly to that consumer,” Humphreys said.
Beyond life insurance, the Pennsylvania Treasury handles other unclaimed property, including uncashed paychecks, dormant bank accounts and escrow refunds. In 2025 alone, the state treasury returned more than $334.1 million in unclaimed property to residents. Pennsylvanians can look for missing money by entering their last name on the state’s search portal at searchandclaim.pa.gov. Consumer Adviser Clark Howard encouraged people to look for forgotten assets. “It’s a treasure hunt!” Howard said.
Consumers can also check for money through legal action settlements and federal consumer protection efforts. The website ClassAction.org tracks open settlements and investigations, allowing consumers to review active cases and filing deadlines. Active settlements listed on the site include cases involving Equifax, Navy Federal Credit Union, Ford, GM and the iPhone. The Federal Trade Commission also manages refund programs to enforce consumer protection laws, with active programs involving companies such as Amazon, AT&T, Grubhub and Ring.
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