Californians Urged to Claim Unused State Funds Before Time Runs Out

There remains a significant amount of unclaimed money that millions of Californians could still access from the state.

However, time is running out to take advantage of it.

Californians who received their Middle Class Tax Refund via debit card must utilize or transfer any leftover funds by April 30, as stated by the Franchise Tax Board.

This initiative, a one-time financial booster, was sanctioned by state legislators in 2022. It was designed based on 2020 tax returns to counter soaring gas prices following the United States’ prohibition on importing Russian oil.

Overall, approximately $9.2 billion was disbursed to nearly 32 million residents in California, with individual payments ranging between $200 and $1,050, determined by income level and filing classification.

While millions of Californians got their payments via direct deposit, nearly 10 million others were sent debit cards in the mail — leaving a massive pool of funds that may still be sitting untouched.

State data shows about 57% of activated cards still carry a balance, totaling nearly $3 billion.

The cards were mailed between late 2022 and early 2023 and all expire at the end of the April. After that, any unused funds with be returned to California general fund, LAist reported.

Cardholders can check their balance through Money Network, which administers the program — though anyone who lost their card can no longer request a replacement.

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