Seven places to look for holiday cash

There’s a small chance that someone out there owes you money and is just waiting for you to claim it.

The odds aren’t good, but it doesn’t cost anything to check. Here’s advice from Clark Howard, a consumer expert at clarkhoward.com, and the office of Ron Estes, the Kansas state treasurer.

1. Missingmoney.com – Plug your name and home state into this search engine and check the unclaimed money offices of most states with one search. Unclaimed stock dividends, life insurance policies, utility refund checks and dormant bank accounts are eventually turned over to the states, which try to find the owner. If you don’t have a computer, you can call the state treasurer’s office at 800-432-0386 and have them check your name against unclaimed property held in Kansas. The state auctions off the contents of abandoned safety deposit boxes on eBay. Follow the link on Kansascash.com to find items the state is selling.

2. HUD loans – If you have ever had an FHA loan, you may be entitled to a refund from the mortgage insurance premiums you paid. Go to HUD.gov, click on the A-Z Index, go to refunds under the R’s.

3. Savings bonds – The Department of Treasury offers a searchable database that allows you to check for lost savings bonds and those that have matured and are no longer paying interest. Searches are typically done using the Social Security number of the bond holder. Go to treasurydirect.gov and search for the term Treasury Hunt.

4. MetLife Railroad Insurance – Survivors of retired railroad employees who died between 1964 and 2001 may be eligible for a $2,000 life insurance benefit, according to the Kansas State Treasurer’s Office. For more information, call MetLife at 800-310-7770 or search the employee’s name on the state treasurer’s website, kansascash.com.

5. Pension – If the company you worked for offered a pension plan and went out of business – or stopped funding it – you might still be able to get money. Find out if you have an unclaimed pension at the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation’s website, pbgc.gov. Search for unclaimed pension.

6. “Individual Indian Money” – The Office of Special Trustee for American Indians has a searchable database for Native Americans whose whereabouts are unknown and are owed money. Go to doi.gov and search for “Is OST holding money for you?”

7. Rebates – While you are out shopping, don’t miss out on rebates, advises the Tribune News Service. Find thousands of rebates on all types of items at mail-in-rebate-forms.blogspot.com. Be sure to read the fine print.

Roy Wenzl

This story was originally published November 22, 2014 at 4:43 PM with the headline "Seven places to look for holiday cash."