The Teachers’ Retirement System is in possession of many uncashed checks that have been issued since 2000. The names of those who have not cashed their TRS checks are listed on its website. Go to www.trsnyc.org to see if your name is on the list.

You also may know of people who were TRS members who left the school system more than seven years ago and were not vested. These people have expired accounts that may no longer be earning interest. They are due refunds of their account balances, and the TRS would like to give them their refunds. If their name is on the list, they should contact the TRS at 1-888-869-2877.

The number of years is important because if former members wish to return to membership and have been off the job for less than seven years, they can come back and renew their membership in the tier they were in. After seven years, they would have to return as brand-new members in the tier available at that time.

Many individuals also have non-TRS-related unclaimed funds from such sources as old bank accounts, uncashed checks, utility deposits and others. State governments hold these unclaimed funds and want to return them to the rightful owners.

Billions of dollars are being held by New York State and other states. Some of that money may be yours. New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli maintains a search engine on his website to find out if New York State is holding money for you. The easiest and fastest way to find out is to visit the state comptroller’s website at www.osc.state.ny.us. Search for your name. If you find funds to claim, provide as much information as possible to speed the processing of your claim.

Also, if you have lived in another state, you can also check that. The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators has a website that you can go to in order to see if any money is waiting for you to claim. The website is www.unclaimed.org. You should search for unclaimed funds in each state in which you have lived.

Both these websites are free. Be warned that there are businesses that charge to check for you. There is, however, generally no need to pay someone to run these searches on your behalf.

By the way, while doing research on this article, one of the authors found unclaimed funds on the state comptroller’s website for two nieces and a nephew, as well as a check at the TRS for a UFT retiree. A UFT pension consultant found an unclaimed check for himself and one for his father on the state comptroller’s website after seeing an advance copy of this article.