---
title: Find unclaimed money and lost life insurance | Plan Before You Die
url: https://planbeforeyoudie.app/money-finder
source: Plan Before You Die
---

Free guide

# Find unclaimed money and lost life insurance

Search in your own name, and for a spouse or parent who died. These official searches are free.
- Free official searches
- Checked October 14, 2026        **1 in 7**

people have unclaimed property, by NAUPA's estimate. National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators   **Nearly $17 billion**

in life insurance and annuities matched by the NAIC's free policy locator, through July 2026. National Association of Insurance Commissioners, September 2026

**Never pay a finder fee.** Official state programs never charge to search or to claim. A call or text asking for a fee or personal details is a scam. [Read the FTC alert](https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/03/how-handle-unexpected-calls-about-unclaimed-funds)

## Search in your own name

Search every state you've lived in, and try past names and misspellings.

### State unclaimed property

Old bank accounts, uncashed checks, refunds and deposits. MissingMoney covers most states. Hawaii has its own site.

[MissingMoney.com](https://missingmoney.com/) · [Unclaimed.org state list](https://unclaimed.org/)

### Unclaimed pensions

From private employer plans that ended. Search with your last name and the last four digits of your Social Security number.

[PBGC pension search](https://www.pbgc.gov/workers-retirees/find-unclaimed-retirement-benefits/search-unclaimed)

### Old workplace retirement plans

Only you can search this one, with your own Login.gov account.

[Retirement Savings Lost and Found](https://lostandfound.dol.gov/)

### Failed banks and credit unions

Deposits from closed banks and credit unions. After 18 months, unclaimed bank deposits go to the state, so search there too.

[FDIC search](https://closedbanks.fdic.gov/funds/) · [NCUA list](https://ncua.gov/support-services/conservatorships-liquidations/unclaimed-deposits)

### FHA mortgage refunds

If you had an FHA-insured mortgage, check whether HUD owes you a refund.

[HUD refund search](https://entp.hud.gov/dsrs/refunds/)

### Court funds and back wages

Money from bankruptcy cases, and wages the Labor Department couldn't deliver.

[U.S. Courts locator](https://ucf.uscourts.gov/) · [Workers Owed Wages](https://webapps.dol.gov/wow/)

## For a spouse or parent who died

Search their name too. Claims for someone who died need extra proof.
### Life insurance and annuities

The NAIC's free locator asks insurers to look for their policies. You'll hear back only if you're the beneficiary or have legal authority. It can take 90 business days or more.

[How to use the NAIC locator](https://content.naic.org/article/learn-how-use-naic-life-insurance-policy-locator)
### State unclaimed property

Search their name in every state they lived in. Claims as an heir need extra proof.

[MissingMoney.com](https://missingmoney.com/)
### Veterans' insurance funds

If they served, search by the veteran's last name.

[VA unclaimed funds](https://insurance.va.gov/UnclaimedFunds/Search)
### Lost savings bonds

Treasury Hunt ended on September 30, 2025, so there's no search. Treasury has separate forms for bonds of someone who died.

[TreasuryDirect lost bonds](https://www.treasurydirect.gov/savings-bonds/manage-bonds/lost-stolen-destroyed-ee-or-i-bonds/)

**Search again each year.** MissingMoney adds new property daily, and PBGC updates its pension list every three months.