How to check if you're owed any of B.C.'s $208 million in unclaimed money
A little extra cash can go a long way, and one B.C. organization could help claim money you may not have realized you were owed.
BC Unclaimed takes care of forgotten, left-behind money while seeking to reunite people with unclaimed cash.
“Every year, people across British Columbia are surprised to learn they have money waiting for them. Maybe you opened a credit union account and forgot to close it before moving,” notes BC Unclaimed on its website.
The organization notes that uncashed checks, dormant accounts, unpaid wages, or forgotten insurance payouts are all examples of “unclaimed property.”
“When organizations are unable to contact the rightful owner, and enough time has passed, those funds may be transferred to BC Unclaimed under the Unclaimed Property Act,” states BC Unclaimed.
The organization hold the funds and tries to reunite them with their rightful owners.
Currently, BC Unclaimed said there is $208 million in funds waiting to be claimed.
In 2024, $2,696,795 was returned to its rightful owners across B.C.
How do you know if you have unclaimed money?
All it takes is a quick search on the BC Unclaimed website. Just follow these simple steps:
- Go to bcunclaimed.ca/search
- Search your name in the database
- If there are results, you can click on the name to learn more about the unclaimed property
- Inquire about the money by filling out the BC Unclaimed form
The organization also has a handy flowchart about the process:
BC Unclaimed
Frequently asked questions
There is no fee to use BC Unclaimed and no deadline to claim your money.
“The funds are held securely, and we ensure that they can be paid out at any time,” it adds.
If you are the executor of a relative who has died, BC Unclaimed says it will help guide you through the process of claiming these funds.
And if you’re curious to know what happens with surplus funds, BC Unclaimed said that money is used to support charities, non-profits, and community organizations across the province.