The Pennsylvania Treasury preparing checks to mail in 2016. (Credit: PA Internet News Service)
The treasury stated Act 65 of 2024 widened the pool of eligible heirs to include surviving spouses, children, grandchildren, parents, siblings, and grandparents
The Pennsylvania Treasury Department returned a record-breaking $334.1 million in unclaimed property during 2025, Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced.
The total for 2025 marks a significant increase over the previous record of $272.2 million set in 2024.
“One of my top priorities is ensuring that unclaimed property finds its rightful owners,” said Garrity, a Republican. “I’m incredibly proud of our dedicated team at Treasury who works hard each day to reunite unclaimed property with those to whom it belongs.”
Garrity attributed the record-setting year to several systemic improvements and legislative changes enacted during her tenure.
Among the changes was the first year of “Pennsylvania Money Match,” a program authorized by Act 81 of 2024 that allows the state treasury to automatically return property valued up to $500. The program returned nearly $50 million to residents in its inaugural year.
The treasury stated Act 65 of 2024 widened the pool of eligible heirs to include surviving spouses, children, grandchildren, parents, siblings, and grandparents.
Act 50 of 2024 raised the limit for claims using a Relationship Affidavit from $11,000 to $20,000.
The treasury under took a program to outreach to targeting counties, municipalities, and school districts has returned more than $18.9 million to 113 different entities.
The department stated it implemented new online fraud controls to block automated bot- or AI-initiated inquiries.
Garrity, a military veteran, highlighted the department’s work in returning 548 military decorations and pieces of memorabilia, including 13 Purple Hearts and three Bronze Stars.
Unlike tangible assets from safe deposit boxes, which may be auctioned after three years, military honors are never sold and are held in the Treasury vault until the veteran or their family is located, the treasury said.
In a statement this week, the Pennsylvania Treasury said it safeguards more than $5 billion in unclaimed property, which can include uncashed checks, abandoned stocks, and dormant bank accounts.
Officials estimate that one in 10 Pennsylvanians is owed property, with the average claim valued at more than $1,000.
Residents can search for unclaimed property at the department’s website, patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property.
