Nearly 100,000 Pennsylvania residents are expected to receive checks in the mail as the state Treasury completes another large distribution of unclaimed funds. The most recent mailing totals almost $22 million, with payments sent to households across urban, suburban, and rural areas of the Commonwealth.
State officials confirmed that the checks have already been issued and are being distributed to recipients statewide. These payments are not part of a stimulus or rebate program; they are funds that already belong to residents and were previously unclaimed.
Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity has emphasized that recipients should promptly cash or deposit the checks, noting that the funds are legitimate and issued directly by the Commonwealth through established Treasury procedures.
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Why the State Is Sending Out These Payments
The current round of payments is being issued under the Pennsylvania Money Match program, a newer initiative within the state’s unclaimed property system. The program is designed to proactively return certain unclaimed assets without requiring residents to file a claim.
Unclaimed property typically arises when financial institutions, employers, or businesses lose contact with an account holder. After a legally defined dormancy period, the funds are transferred to the state Treasury, which holds them until ownership is confirmed.
Money Match uses Treasury data to verify ownership and mailing addresses. When eligibility criteria are met, the Treasury automatically issues a check, reducing delays and administrative steps that historically prevented many residents from reclaiming small amounts.
Check your mailbox! Nearly 100,000 Money Match checks were mailed out this week just in time for the holidays, totaling more than $22 million!
Learn more: https://t.co/7s3iRO8hjQ pic.twitter.com/QQW3fvpVBa
— PA Treasurer Stacy Garrity (@PATreasurer) December 19, 2025
How the Money Match Process Operates
Money Match focuses on efficiency and accuracy. Rather than relying on residents to search databases, the Treasury identifies eligible owners internally and mails payments directly. This approach is particularly practical for low-dollar, single-owner claims where ownership is clear.
The program was established under Act 81 of 2024, legislation that passed unanimously in both chambers of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Lawmakers cited the growing volume of unclaimed property and the need to modernize return processes as key drivers of the reform.
With the completion of the final mailing of the year, the Treasury reports that more than $50 million has been returned automatically during the program’s first year, signaling a significant expansion in unclaimed property recovery.
Eligibility Boundaries Residents Should Understand
Although the program is broad, it does not apply to all unclaimed assets. Automatic payments are limited to cases that meet clearly defined criteria intended to protect ownership rights and prevent errors.
Key eligibility conditions for automatic payment include:
- Unclaimed property valued at $500 or less
- Single-owner property with no disputes
- Ownership that can be confirmed using state records
Claims that exceed the value threshold or involve multiple owners, estates, or documentation requirements remain recoverable but must be claimed through the traditional process.
When a Manual Claim Is Still Required
Many unclaimed assets fall outside Money Match’s scope and still require residents to take action. These cases are often more complex and involve higher values or legal considerations that cannot be resolved automatically.
Situations requiring a standard claim process include:
- Property valued above $500
- Accounts with multiple owners
- Estate-related or inheritance-based assets
In these cases, residents must submit a claim and provide documentation to verify identity and entitlement. The Treasury continues to hold these funds indefinitely until a valid claim is approved.
What Counts as Unclaimed Property in Pennsylvania
Unclaimed property is not limited to bank accounts. It includes a wide range of financial assets and, in some cases, physical property that has gone uncollected.
Examples include forgotten checking or savings accounts, uncashed payroll or refund checks, insurance policy benefits, stock dividends, and customer overpayments. The Treasury may also hold tangible items, such as the contents of abandoned safe deposit boxes, until ownership is established.
According to Treasury data, more than one in ten Pennsylvanians owes some portion of the approximately $5 billion in unclaimed property currently under state custody.
Scale and Impact of the Current Distribution
| Measure | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total value of latest mailing | Nearly $22 million |
| Estimated number of recipients | About 100,000 |
| Automatic returns in first year | Over $50 million |
| Maximum automatic payment | $500 |
This distribution reflects one of the largest automatic returns of unclaimed property in Pennsylvania’s history, though it represents only a fraction of the funds still held by the Treasury.
Broader Context of Unclaimed Funds Statewide
| Category | Data |
|---|---|
| Total unclaimed property held | Approximately $5 billion |
| Share of residents potentially affected | More than 10% |
| Average value of a claim | Over $1,000 |
These figures show that while Money Match has accelerated the return of smaller amounts, many residents may still be owed significantly larger sums that require a separate claim.
What Recipients and Other Residents Should Do
Residents who receive a check are advised to deposit or cash it promptly. The Treasury does not charge fees, request confirmation payments, or require follow-up actions for Money Match checks.
Those who do not receive a check are not excluded from recovering unclaimed property. Many assets fall outside the automatic program and remain available through the standard claims process. Treasury officials continue to encourage residents to periodically search for unclaimed property, as eligibility for automatic payment is limited.
As Treasurer Garrity has stated, the checks now arriving in mailboxes represent real money belonging to Pennsylvanians, but they are only one part of a broader effort to return billions in forgotten funds across the Commonwealth.
That's good,it should be all over.I felt cashapp is a scam.I threw my card away n never tried using again.True scam.