As the holiday season approaches, many people are preoccupied with the increasing cost of living, with 20% hoping for some respite from escalating food prices this Christmas. They anticipate spending approximately $506 on groceries and beverages this year, marking a significant 25% rise from the $406 spent in 2024.

While families are striving to stretch their budgets further, a substantial amount of money remains unclaimed — billions of dollars that could offer financial relief to those eligible, especially during these times of economic strain.

If you’ve ever switched jobs, relocated, neglected to update your information, or possess multiple superannuation accounts, you might have unclaimed superannuation funds.

These funds are managed by ASIC and originate from accounts that have been inactive for an extended period, typically seven years.

In addition to superannuation, other potential sources of unclaimed money include refunds or credits from energy providers, educational institutions, and health insurance funds, among many others.

Lost bank accounts, life insurance, shares, and investments

This money is managed by the ASIC and comes from accounts that haven’t been touched for a certain period, usually seven years of inactivity.

Other potential sources include energy companies, universities and health funds, among plenty of others.

How to check if you have unclaimed money

To check for unclaimed money in your state’s database, head to the relevant state website below: