Imagine waking up one morning and learning the state owes you money—without you even asking for it. That is exactly what is happening in Arkansas right now. Thanks to a new law, thousands of residents are about to get “surprise” checks worth up to $1,000. The best part? For many people, the cash is coming automatically.
What is unclaimed property?
Before we get into who gets the money, let us clear up what this is all about. The cash does not come from new taxes or government giveaways. It comes from unclaimed property—money or assets that belong to you but were left behind or forgotten.
Unclaimed property can be things like:
- Old paychecks you never cashed
- A forgotten savings or checking account
- Utility or rental deposits
- Insurance payments or refunds
- Customer overpayments or rebates
- Contents of safe deposit boxes
After a certain amount of time, banks, businesses, and financial institutions are required by law to hand over these assets to the state. The state then holds onto the money until the rightful owner claims it.
Which state is sending the automatic checks?
This time it is Arkansas leading the way. The Arkansas State Auditor’s Office is currently holding more than $400 million in unclaimed property. Thanks to Act 114 of 2025, the auditor’s office can now return smaller amounts of money automatically—without you even filing a claim.
Auditor Dennis Milligan explained it simply: “The next two or three months is going to be a lot of fun for Arkansans, because the checks will start going out.”
How much money can you get?
Here is the breakdown of what people may receive:
- Checks worth between $50 and $1,000 can now be mailed automatically.
- If your unclaimed property is more than $1,000, you will need to complete a claim form and provide identification before the state releases it.
- The average payout will be a little more than $100, according to Milligan.
So while not everyone is walking away with a thousand dollars, many people will still see a welcome boost to their wallets.
How do you know if you are eligible?
The best part is that eligibility is very wide. In fact, about one in four Arkansas residents has some kind of unclaimed property waiting to be claimed.
Here is how it works:
- If the auditor’s office reasonably believes the money belongs to you, they will automatically mail a check if the amount is $1,000 or less.
- You do not need to fill out forms or take extra steps—just watch for a letter from the auditor’s office.
- If the amount is over $1,000, you will receive paperwork to complete before you can get the money.
What should you do next?
Even though some payments are going out automatically, it is still a good idea to check if you have unclaimed property. Here is what you can do:
- Visit the Arkansas unclaimed property website and search for your name.
- If you lived in Arkansas before but now live in another state, you can still search the system and file a claim.
- For larger amounts or shared property (like married couples or business partners), you may need to submit proof of ownership before receiving your check.
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