Unclaimed Melody: Find Out if New York State Owes You Money

And now for some good news.

New Yorkers are scraping and saving to survive the down economy, but New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced today that New York State might have some of your money.

DiNapoli is hoping New Yorkers take advantage of the states large amount of unclaimed funds -- $10.5 million to be exact.

“New York has $10.5 billion in unclaimed fund accounts. We want to return this money to its rightful owners,” DiNapoli said. “The money belongs to New Yorkers. We want to give it back.”

The money comes from banks, insurance companies, utilities, investment companies and many other businesses that are required by state law to surrender inactive accounts to the government.  These accounts are considered “lost,” “abandoned” or “unclaimed” by businesses and the funds related to these accounts are handed over to the Office of Unclaimed Funds.

Once handed over the state comptroller’s office acts as the custodian for the unclaimed money.  Until the moment the money is claimed, they are included and used in the State’s General Funds, according to the Unclaimed Funds website.

The entire process takes about 90 days from the time a New Yorker submits a claim to the time the state acknowledges and verifies it.

New Yorkers can check for unclaimed funds at www.osc.state.ny.us or by calling toll free at 1-800-221-9311.

For more personal service, representatives from DiNapoli’s office will be at the following local events:

Hudson Valley Region

Aug. 13 9am-12pm             The Village of Scarsdale Village Hall     1001 Post Road Scarsdale, NY     Westchester

Aug. 24-29 10am-10pm     Dutchess County Fair                                Fairgrounds Rhinebeck, NY           Dutchess

Long Island

Aug. 19 10am-4pm           Sunken Meadows August Picnic              Sunken Meadows State Park         Kings Park, NY     Suffolk

NYC

Aug. 6 10:30am-12pm     Van Cortlandt Senior Center                     3880 Sedgwick Avenue                    Bronx, NY               Bronx

Aug. 7 11am-4pm             Asian Community United Society’s         59th Street btwn. 8th & 9th Ave.       Brooklyn, NY         Kings

                                              Annual Street Fair      

Aug. 20 11am-4pm     Spring Creek Gardens Health Expo            903 Drew Street                                   Brooklyn, NY     Kings

Aug. 21 10am-4pm     Senator Eric Adams Annual Cradle            Prospect Heights High School          Brooklyn, NY     Kings

                                          to College Parent Empowerment             Campus 833 Classon Avenue                                       

Aug. 21 12pm-6pm     Assemblyman Peter Rivera’s Bronx           1270 Pugsley Avenue                          Bronx, NY     Bronx

                                        Unity Day