YOU CAN BANK ON IT

This could be your lucky day — check to see if you have money in your name waiting to be claimed

T HERE’S a whopping $15 billion in unclaimed funds in New York right now. Is some of it yours? New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced that his office has over $15 billion in unclaimed funds, and urged New Yorkers to see if any of it belongs to them. In State Fiscal Year 2015-16, DiNapoli’s office received $808 million and paid out $424 million paid to claimants. “We’ve made it easier for New Yorkers to search for and claim money that is rightfully theirs,” said DiNapoli. No wonder over two million people visit the state’s Web site, Unclaimed.org, for missing funds every year. “We return $1.5 million a day,” says DiNapoli. “But we need people to help spread the word to their family, friends and neighbors. Take a few minutes out of your day and visit our Web site.” There are currently more than 37 million unclaimed-funds accounts, some dating back to the 1940s. The majority of unclaimed-funds accounts stem from old bank accounts but also include stocks, life insurance, uncashed checks and gift cards. State law requires that abandoned money or securities be transferred to the comptroller’s office if there is no activity in an account for a specified period, which is typically three years.

DiNapoli serves as the custodian of these unclaimed funds until they’re claimed by the rightful owners.

Across the US, billions of dollars are locked up in forgotten bank accounts, pension schemes, utility credits and insurance plans, and particularly here in cash-rich New York.

Most claims (52 percent) are under $100, but sometimes there are bigger chunks of change sitting around. There is still one megaclaim waiting to be made: Over $8 million for an estate.

It is free to claim this money, so beware of private companies trying to claim for you for a fee of up to 15 percent. You need to provide your taxpayer identification number and other personal information, and your gains will be reported to the IRS and other taxing authorities by New York State.

Swarovski, Adidas and Express are just some of her endorsers, but supermodel KARLIE KLOSS has also done some work with the movie company WB Studio Enterprises. They have some money for a Ms. Kloss of East 42nd Street; pull it up on your iPhone,...

Hard to imagine that New Wave goddess DEBBIE HARRY of Blondie fame spends much time in Home Depot. But, anything’s possible. We urge Deborah A. Harry of Oakridge Drive, Rochester, NY to find out what the big-box retailer is holding for her. Those...