Are Aussies onto the easiest $1,400 cash hack? Here’s how you could boost your bank account fast
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Wouldn’t it be nice to stumble across a forgotten stash of cash—just waiting for you to claim it? Well, for thousands of Aussies, that dream is a reality, and it’s easier than you might think to get your hands on it.
If you’ve ever changed addresses, switched banks, or simply lost track of old accounts, there could be money with your name on it, quietly gathering dust in government coffers.
The Hidden Treasure Trove: Billions Waiting to Be Claimed
Across Australia, billions of dollars are sitting unclaimed in state and federal registers. This isn’t just small change, either—some people have discovered hundreds, even thousands of dollars owed to them, with one lucky Aussie recently pocketing a cool $1,400! And the best part? It only takes a few minutes to check if you’re one of the lucky ones.
How Does Money Go Missing?
You might be wondering how so much money ends up unclaimed. The answer is surprisingly simple. Life gets busy, and things slip through the cracks. Maybe you moved house and forgot to update your details with your bank or insurance company. Perhaps you never cashed a dividend cheque, or you left a few dollars in an old superannuation account. Over time, these amounts add up—sometimes stretching back decades!
Unclaimed money can come from a variety of sources, including:
- Bank accounts left dormant for too long
- Unclaimed superannuation
- Life insurance payouts
- Dividends and shares
- Unpresented cheques
- Refunds or overpayments
- Trust funds
Some records even date back to the 1980s and 1990s, so it’s worth checking even if you think you’re too organised to have missed anything.
How to Find Your Forgotten Fortune
Every state and territory in Australia has its own unclaimed money register, and there’s also a national database. The process is refreshingly simple:
1. Visit your state or territory’s unclaimed money website (see the list below).
2. Enter your last name, suburb, and (if relevant) organisation name.
3. See if your name pops up!
If you find a match, you’ll need to lodge a claim and provide some identification—usually a quick online form and a few documents. Then, it’s just a matter of waiting for your windfall to land in your bank account.
Also read: Lost inheritance? Why millions in unclaimed estates end up with the government
Where to Search: Your State and National Registers
Here’s where you can start your search:
Don’t just take our word for it—Aussies across the country are sharing their surprise and delight at finding unexpected cash. One Queenslander, Renee Gracie, was shocked to discover $142 in her name. Others have found even more: 'Owed $1,000 from an insurance company. Winner winner,' said one. Another found $410 for their partner and $530 for their dad, dating all the way back to 1981!
And it’s not just individuals—one person uncovered six figures in total for five family members, including $1,400 for themselves. Talk about a family windfall!
Why Is This Money Just Sitting There?
Under Australian law, organisations must transfer unclaimed money to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) if they can’t find the rightful owner. ASIC then holds onto the funds, waiting for you to come forward. If you don’t claim it, the money is transferred to the Commonwealth of Australia Consolidated Revenue Fund—but you can still claim it at any time.
Read next: Discover hidden wealth: How Aussies can reclaim billions in unclaimed money and superannuation
Have you ever discovered unclaimed money in your name, or helped a friend or family member find theirs? How much did you find, and what did you do with your windfall? Share your experiences in the comments below—let’s see who’s found the biggest hidden treasure!
If you’ve ever changed addresses, switched banks, or simply lost track of old accounts, there could be money with your name on it, quietly gathering dust in government coffers.
The Hidden Treasure Trove: Billions Waiting to Be Claimed
Across Australia, billions of dollars are sitting unclaimed in state and federal registers. This isn’t just small change, either—some people have discovered hundreds, even thousands of dollars owed to them, with one lucky Aussie recently pocketing a cool $1,400! And the best part? It only takes a few minutes to check if you’re one of the lucky ones.
How Does Money Go Missing?
You might be wondering how so much money ends up unclaimed. The answer is surprisingly simple. Life gets busy, and things slip through the cracks. Maybe you moved house and forgot to update your details with your bank or insurance company. Perhaps you never cashed a dividend cheque, or you left a few dollars in an old superannuation account. Over time, these amounts add up—sometimes stretching back decades!
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) also reports a staggering $16 billion in unclaimed superannuation alone. That’s a lot of retirement savings just waiting to be reunited with their owners! Image source: Melissa Walker Horn / Unsplash.
Unclaimed money can come from a variety of sources, including:
- Bank accounts left dormant for too long
- Unclaimed superannuation
- Life insurance payouts
- Dividends and shares
- Unpresented cheques
- Refunds or overpayments
- Trust funds
Some records even date back to the 1980s and 1990s, so it’s worth checking even if you think you’re too organised to have missed anything.
How to Find Your Forgotten Fortune
Every state and territory in Australia has its own unclaimed money register, and there’s also a national database. The process is refreshingly simple:
1. Visit your state or territory’s unclaimed money website (see the list below).
2. Enter your last name, suburb, and (if relevant) organisation name.
3. See if your name pops up!
If you find a match, you’ll need to lodge a claim and provide some identification—usually a quick online form and a few documents. Then, it’s just a matter of waiting for your windfall to land in your bank account.
Also read: Lost inheritance? Why millions in unclaimed estates end up with the government
Where to Search: Your State and National Registers
Here’s where you can start your search:
- New South Wales: Revenue NSW
- Victoria: State Revenue Office (SRO)
- Queensland: Public Trustee of QLD
- South Australia: Treasury and Finance SA
- Western Australia: WA Treasury
- Tasmania: Department of Treasury and Finance
- Australian Capital Territory: Public Trustee and Guardian
- Northern Territory: Territory Revenue Office/Public Trustee
- National: Moneysmart Unclaimed Money Search
Don’t just take our word for it—Aussies across the country are sharing their surprise and delight at finding unexpected cash. One Queenslander, Renee Gracie, was shocked to discover $142 in her name. Others have found even more: 'Owed $1,000 from an insurance company. Winner winner,' said one. Another found $410 for their partner and $530 for their dad, dating all the way back to 1981!
And it’s not just individuals—one person uncovered six figures in total for five family members, including $1,400 for themselves. Talk about a family windfall!
Why Is This Money Just Sitting There?
Under Australian law, organisations must transfer unclaimed money to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) if they can’t find the rightful owner. ASIC then holds onto the funds, waiting for you to come forward. If you don’t claim it, the money is transferred to the Commonwealth of Australia Consolidated Revenue Fund—but you can still claim it at any time.
Read next: Discover hidden wealth: How Aussies can reclaim billions in unclaimed money and superannuation
Have you ever discovered unclaimed money in your name, or helped a friend or family member find theirs? How much did you find, and what did you do with your windfall? Share your experiences in the comments below—let’s see who’s found the biggest hidden treasure!
