Thousands of Pennsylvania residents will receive checks worth up to $500 in the coming weeks as part of the Money Match program, which was launched by the state Treasury Department to automatically return unclaimed property to its rightful owner.
This measure, far from being fraudulent, was approved by the General Assembly and signed by Governor Josh Shapiro last year.
According to State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, more than 39,000 checks totaling $9.2 million were distributed over the summer, and a new round of nearly 40,000 notifications is expected to be distributed in August, with approximately 80,000 people expected to receive these payments throughout the year.
What is the Money Match program?
Money Match is a state-created mechanism for facilitating the return of unclaimed property, such as forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance payments, and other financial assets.
The process automatically identifies beneficiaries and mails them a check, eliminating the need for them to submit a formal application.
The Pennsylvania General Assembly unanimously passed the program’s legislation, which represents a way to “cut through the bureaucracy” and return money to those who deserve it, according to state Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, one of the measure’s supporters.
The state has more than $5 billion in unclaimed property, so the program’s potential is significant.
Money Match, the direct benefit for citizens
For many families, these funds come at an opportune time. “Every dollar we return to Pennsylvania families is money they can use to buy food, fill up their gas tank, or pay their rent or mortgage,” said Garrity.
The authorities insist that the recipients of the checks should cash them as soon as possible and remind them that this is not a fraud.
The state Treasury advises all residents to keep an eye on their mail in the coming months, as notifications will begin to be sent out in August and September. Additionally, citizens are encouraged to visit the official Money Match program website to see if they have any unclaimed property.
With over $5 billion in unclaimed assets and approximately one in every ten residents eligible to receive funds, the program represents an impressive effort to get resources directly to citizens without the use of bureaucratic procedures.
