Watch Your Mail: Some PA Residents Getting Checks Of Up To $500

PENNSYLVANIA — You soon might receive a check for as much as $500 from the state treasury department as the latest round of Pennsylvania Money Match checks are distributed.

Money Match is a program that allows the state treasury department to return certain unclaimed property to rightful owners automatically. That ability went into effect last year following the passage of a new state law.

Unclaimed property can be anything from old bank accounts, uncashed paychecks, insurance payments, rebates and more.

"It's exciting to see so many people getting money they don't know they had," Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity said in a statement.

"It's now important that people cash these checks. We want everyone to known this is a real program and this is real money. Every dollar we return to Pennsylvania families is money they can use to buy groceries, fill up their cars with gas or pay their rent or mortgage."

According to Garrity's office, the state is working to return more than $5 billion in unclaimed property to its owners. More than one in 10 Pennsylvanians is owed money.

Here's how it works: those eligible will receive a letter from the Pennsylvania Treasury Department indicating that they have money coming. Checks will arrive about 45 days later.

Money Match checks are sent quarterly. The next batch, which will be sent to about 40,000 people, are due to be distributed in August.

"It's exciting to see so many people getting money they don't know they had," Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity said in a statement.

"It's now important that people cash these checks. We want everyone to known this is a real program and this is real money. Every dollar we return to Pennsylvania families is money they can use to buy groceries, fill up their cars with gas or pay their rent or mortgage."

For more details on the program, and to see if you're owned unclaimed property, go here.