Support Us Button Widget

Attention Lakeland: you may have unclaimed money

person-holding-banknote-928184-970x545 (1)

Photo via Pexels

Table of Contents

There are a lot of intense events happening right now, so we thought we’d bring you some good news today.

You might have free money. Kaylee here, and yes, I said free money — and no, it’s not a scam nor does it require a complicated process in order to claim your cash.

Anyone with a last-known address in Florida may have unclaimed money that the state is holding. It could be an old utility deposit you forgot about or an old payroll check that didn’t make it to an address before you moved.

If a company tries to send the money but it doesn’t make it, that money goes to the Florida Department of Financial Services. Then, the state tries to find the rightful owner. If that person has died, the appropriate family member can claim it. There is no time limit for residents to make claims.

Do you have any unclaimed money, honey?

Here’s how to start your treasure hunt

  • Click here for the state’s unclaimed money search, and from there, click the green rectangular button that says, “Start your search” 💰
  • Enter your last + first name where it says, “Name search.”
  • Prove you aren’t a robot. 🤖
  • You also have the option of adding in more details with an “advanced search,” or you can just click the “search” button. Either way, you’ll be prompted another page, with names + addresses.
  • Search the list of names to see if your name is there, along with a familiar address. If it is, click your name.
  • Once you find your information, there’s a short form that asks you for your social security number, along with a bit more basic information. 🕵️
  • Type that info in to make your claim + voilà, information on how much money you may be owed will appear.
  • From there, state officials go through a due diligence process to make sure the right person is claiming the money. Claims can take several weeks to process. ⌚

While researching this, I literally found a few hundred dollars I didn’t know I had. It’s like finding $10 in an old pair of jeans, but better. 🙌

– LALtoday team (Abby and Kaylee)

More from LALtoday
Ring in the season with a trip to one of these fall-exclusive spots for the whole family.
Halloween lovers and scaredy-cats alike will find something to enjoy at this popular Plant City attraction.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
Hit the courts and grab a bite at this development, helmed by local entrepreneurs and pickleball fanatics.
The City of Lakeland has finalized its 2026 budget before the next fiscal year begins — let’s take a look at the $815 million bottom line.
From guilty pleasures to unexpected favorites, the “unfortunately do love” social media trend is taking over the internet — and we want your input.
From coffee to baked goods to cocktails, there’s a pumpkin spice or fall-flavored treat for everyone in Lakeland to enjoy this fall.
Directly north, east, south, and west of LAL, cities across the world await.
Whether you’re a weekend warrior or the next Tiger Woods, these 13 golf courses in Lakeland are sure to make for a good round.
Polk Vision published the assessment in June 2025 after 18 months of data collection.