What Money Does the Government Owe You?
The government may owe you money through unclaimed tax refunds, uncollected pension payments, dormant government accounts, unclaimed benefits, stimulus payments, and dormant superannuation (Australia). Governments across the USA, UK, Australia, Canada, and beyond hold billions in money belonging to ordinary people who simply haven't claimed it yet. Use our free search tool to check all official government databases in one place — no signup, no fees, results in under 2 minutes.
Types of Government Money You Could Be Owed
The government collects, holds, or administers money on your behalf in more ways than most people realise. Below are the six most common categories — each representing billions in unclaimed funds sitting in official accounts right now.
1. Unclaimed Tax Refunds
USA — IRS Unclaimed Refunds
The IRS holds over $1 billion in unclaimed tax refunds every year. Taxpayers have a 3-year window to file and claim — after that the money is forfeited to the US Treasury. In 2024, approximately $1 billion was held from the 2020 tax year alone. Check at irs.gov/refunds using your SSN, filing status, and refund amount.
UK — HMRC Overpayments
HMRC regularly overpays tax due to coding errors, job changes, or incorrect PAYE deductions. You can claim a refund at gov.uk/claim-tax-refund. Many people also overpay on interest, pensions, and self-assessment. Check your tax code each year — millions of workers are on the wrong code and are owed a rebate.
Australia — ATO Tax Refunds
The ATO may owe you a tax refund if you've had tax withheld from your wages, investments, or other income at a higher rate than your actual tax liability. File via myTax at my.gov.au to check and receive your refund. The average Australian tax refund is approximately A$2,800 per year for those who file.
Canada — CRA Unclaimed Refunds
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) holds unclaimed tax refund cheques that were issued but never cashed, often due to outdated addresses. You can check your CRA My Account at canada.ca/cra for any outstanding refunds, reassessments, or benefit payments. Signing up for direct deposit prevents cheques from going uncashed.
2. Unclaimed Social Security & Pension Benefits
Pension and social security entitlements are among the most commonly missed government payments — billions sit unclaimed each year because people don't apply on time, don't know they're eligible, or don't realise retroactive claims are possible.
USA — Social Security (SSA)
Many Americans don't claim all their entitled Social Security benefits. Retroactive payments are possible in some cases. Survivors, divorced spouses, and disabled adults often have unclaimed entitlements they're unaware of. Check your full benefit statement at ssa.gov/myaccount. Claiming at the wrong time can cost tens of thousands over a lifetime.
UK — State Pension & Pension Credit
Many people claim the UK State Pension late or miss entitlements entirely. Pension Credit — worth an average £3,900/year — is claimed by only 63% of those eligible. Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, and Winter Fuel Payment are also commonly missed. Check at gov.uk/pension-credit and use the benefits calculator.
Australia — Lost Superannuation
A$18.9 billion in lost and unclaimed superannuation is held by the ATO as of 2025. This occurs when funds lose contact with members — common after job changes, moving house, or using multiple super funds. Log in to myGov and link to the ATO to find and consolidate all your super accounts into one.
Canada — CPP & OAS
Many Canadians don't apply for Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Old Age Security (OAS) on time, or are unaware they can claim retroactively for up to 11 months of missed payments. Service Canada also holds unclaimed benefit payments for those who've moved or changed banks. Apply via canada.ca/cppoas.
3. Unclaimed Stimulus & COVID Relief Payments
USA: An estimated 9 million+ eligible Americans never received their 2020–2021 Economic Impact Payments (stimulus cheques). Many of these could still be claimed via the Recovery Rebate Credit on a 2020 or 2021 tax return. The IRS also sent automatic payments to some non-filers in late 2023. Check your transcript at IRS.gov to confirm what you received.
Australia: Some COVID-19 Disaster Payments and Pandemic Leave Disaster Payments were not claimed during the eligibility window. In some cases, overpayments were made — but legitimate underpayments may still be queried with Services Australia.
UK: The UK furlough scheme (CJRS) saw some businesses under-claim on behalf of eligible employees. If you believe your employer did not claim furlough pay you were entitled to, contact HMRC or the Employment Tribunal for guidance on recovering lost income.
4. Dormant Government Accounts & Unclaimed Property
USA — State & Federal Unclaimed Property
State unclaimed property programs hold over $70 billion across all 50 states. Federal agencies also hold separate unclaimed funds: VA benefits, FDIC deposit insurance, FHA mortgage insurance refunds, HUD refunds, and US Savings Bonds via TreasuryDirect. Search all states at MissingMoney.com (NAUPA's official portal).
UK — Dormant Assets Scheme
The UK Dormant Assets Scheme has transferred over £1 billion from long-inactive accounts to a central reclaim fund. The original owner always retains the right to reclaim their money — it is never forfeited. Search for lost dormant accounts at mylostaccount.org.uk covering 30+ banks and building societies.
Australia — ASIC Unclaimed Moneys
ASIC holds dormant bank account balances (accounts inactive for 7+ years with balances of $500 or more). These can be searched and claimed at no cost via moneysmart.gov.au/unclaimed-money. The process is free and handled directly online. ASIC also holds unclaimed life insurance policy benefits and managed fund payments.
Canada — Bank of Canada
The Bank of Canada holds unclaimed bank balances from accounts that have been inactive for 10 years. These include savings accounts, chequing accounts, GICs, and term deposits. Search and claim for free at unclaimed.bank-banque-canada.ca. There is no deadline — balances can be claimed permanently.
5. Government Grants & Benefits Often Not Claimed
UK — Unclaimed Benefits
A staggering £19 billion in UK benefits goes unclaimed annually (Policy in Practice, 2023). The biggest unclaimed amounts: Pension Credit (£2.5B unclaimed), Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Universal Credit, Carer's Allowance, and Free School Meals. Check eligibility at gov.uk/benefits-calculators or entitledto.co.uk.
USA — Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
Approximately 1 in 5 eligible Americans don't claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), leaving billions on the table. The average EITC refund is approximately $2,900. Eligibility depends on income, filing status, and number of children. File a tax return to claim — even if you had no tax withheld. Check eligibility at irs.gov/eitc.
Australia — Centrelink Payments
Many Australians are entitled to Centrelink benefits they've never applied for, including JobSeeker, Rent Assistance, Family Tax Benefit, Youth Allowance, and Carer Payment. Eligibility is based on income, assets, and circumstances. Check and apply via my.gov.au → Services Australia at any time.
Germany — Bürgergeld
Germany's Bürgergeld (citizen's income) provides a minimum of €563/month for eligible individuals. Many people who are entitled to Bürgergeld, housing benefit (Wohngeld), or child benefit (Kindergeld) don't apply because they assume they don't qualify or find the process complex. Apply via your local Jobcenter or at arbeitsagentur.de.
6. FHA, VA & HUD Mortgage Refunds (USA)
Millions of Americans may be owed mortgage-related refunds from federal agencies — and most have no idea these programs exist.
FHA Mortgage Insurance Refunds: If you paid off your FHA-insured mortgage early or refinanced out of it, you may be owed a refund of unearned mortgage insurance premiums (MIP). HUD's refund database holds millions in unclaimed MIP refunds. Check at entp.hud.gov/dsrs/refunds/ using your last name or FHA case number.
VA Home Loan Funding Fee Refunds: Some veterans and service members overpaid the VA home loan funding fee — particularly those who later received a VA disability rating that would have exempted them from the fee. The VA may issue a refund automatically or you can submit a claim via va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans.
HUD Refunds Program: HUD's refund program holds millions in unclaimed mortgage insurance refunds. Claims can be submitted by mail or online. Common reasons for refunds include early payoff of FHA loans, cancellation of mortgage insurance before the end of the loan term, and escrow surpluses.
Country-by-Country Government Benefits Guide
Select your country below to see the key government programs and the official databases where you can check what you're owed. Our free search tool covers all of these simultaneously.
- IRS unclaimed tax refunds (irs.gov/refunds)
- State unclaimed property — all 50 states ($70B+)
- Social Security retroactive benefits (ssa.gov)
- EITC — Earned Income Tax Credit
- FHA / VA / HUD mortgage refunds
- US Savings Bonds (treasurydirect.gov)
- PBGC — unclaimed pension benefits
- FDIC — failed bank deposit insurance
- HMRC tax refunds (gov.uk/claim-tax-refund)
- State Pension entitlement check (gov.uk/check-state-pension)
- Pension Credit — £3,900/year average
- Dormant Assets — mylostaccount.org.uk
- NS&I Premium Bond prizes
- Housing Benefit & Council Tax Reduction
- Universal Credit entitlement
- Child Benefit (High Income Tax Charge repayment)
- Lost superannuation — ATO via myGov (A$18.9B)
- ATO tax refunds via myTax
- ASIC unclaimed bank balances
- Centrelink benefits (JobSeeker, FTB, Rent Assistance)
- Life insurance policy payouts (AFCA)
- Unclaimed share dividends (state registries)
- COVID Disaster Payments (Services Australia)
- Bank of Canada unclaimed balances
- CRA tax refunds and benefit payments
- CPP / OAS retroactive claims (up to 11 months)
- Provincial unclaimed property registries
- Service Canada — missed EI or benefit payments
- Child and Family Benefit entitlements
- Bürgergeld (citizen's income) — €563+/month
- Wohngeld (housing benefit)
- Kindergeld (child benefit)
- Rente (pension) — Deutsche Rentenversicherung
- Steuererstattung (tax refunds) via ELSTER
- Unclaimed banking assets — Bankenfachverband
- Caisse des Dépôts — unclaimed bank accounts
- RSA (Revenu de Solidarité Active) — missed welfare
- Retraite — pension entitlement checks
- Tax refunds via impots.gouv.fr
- Prime d'activité (employment supplement)
- Ciclade — search dormant accounts free
- IEPF — Investor Education & Protection Fund (dividends)
- RBI unclaimed deposits (accounts inactive 10+ years)
- EPF — unclaimed Provident Fund balances (EPFO)
- Income tax refunds via incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in
- PM-Kisan — unclaimed direct benefit transfers
- Insurance unclaimed — IRDAI Life Insurance Council
- SVS — Sistema de Valores a Receber (central bank dormant funds)
- FGTS — unclaimed employment fund balances
- PIS/PASEP — unclaimed social integration fund
- Receita Federal — tax refund restituição
- INSS — pension benefit checks (previdência social)
- Forgotten bank accounts — Banco Central do Brasil
How to Check All Government Money Owed to You
Follow this step-by-step process to ensure you don't leave any government money unclaimed. The entire process can typically be completed in under an hour — and could uncover thousands of dollars, pounds, or euros you didn't know you were owed.
Use Our Free Search Tool — 40+ Official Databases at Once
Start at cryptoandmoneysearch.com. Our free tool simultaneously searches state unclaimed property databases, national tax authority records, pension registries, and dormant asset funds across the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and more. Enter your name — results appear in under 2 minutes with no signup required.
Check Your National Tax Office for Refunds
Log in to your tax authority's portal: irs.gov/refunds (USA), gov.uk/claim-tax-refund (UK), my.gov.au → myTax (Australia), or canada.ca/my-cra-account (Canada). Look for outstanding refunds, uncashed cheques, and benefit back-payments. Also check that your address and banking details are current so future payments don't go missing.
Check Your Pension & Super Authority
In the USA: review your full Social Security statement at ssa.gov/myaccount. In the UK: use the State Pension forecast tool at gov.uk/check-state-pension and check for Pension Credit entitlement. In Australia: log in to myGov → ATO → Super to find lost super accounts. In Canada: check your CPP statement via Service Canada.
Search Unclaimed Property in Every State or Country You've Lived
Unclaimed property is held by the state where the account was last active — not where you live now. If you've ever lived in multiple states or countries, search each one separately. Use MissingMoney.com to search 49 US states at once. For international searches, our tool handles this across 40+ databases simultaneously.
Contact Your Social Security or Pension Office About Retroactive Claims
If you've delayed claiming Social Security, a state pension, or superannuation, ask about retroactive payments. In the USA, SSA may pay up to 6 months retroactively for retirement benefits past Full Retirement Age. In Canada, CPP/OAS can be claimed retroactively up to 11 months. In the UK, some pension entitlements can be backdated. Call or write directly — don't assume the opportunity has passed.
Start Your Free Government Money Search
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Search Now — It's Free →Most Commonly Missed Government Payments
These are the government payments that go unclaimed at the highest rate — often because people assume they're not eligible, or simply don't know the payment exists. Check every one of these against your own circumstances.
Important: Eligibility for all benefits changes over time as your income, household, or circumstances change. Even if you were denied a benefit in the past, you may now qualify. Always re-check annually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions about government money you could be owed.
🪙 Also check: Unclaimed Crypto & Exchange Claims
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Start Free Search →All information is provided for educational purposes only. Government benefit rules change — always verify eligibility with the relevant official authority. CryptoAndMoneySearch is an independent search directory and is not affiliated with any government agency, tax authority, or pension provider. Content by MoneyFinder Team. Contact: contact@cryptoandmoneysearch.com