The Social Security Administration is also responsible for another very substantial stockpile of unclaimed money. In 1987, the General Accounting Office reported 10 million retirees were underpaid benefits because $59 billion in earnings had not been credited to their accounts. In 1996, SSA revealed its "Suspense File" of uncredited earnings and unpaid benefits attributable to clerical errors and reporting mistakes had grown to $200 billion, with over 200 million separate accounts affected! The current figure is well over $250 billion and 220 million accounts!

For assistance locating a Social Security benefit or check that has been lost, was never received or otherwise has not been cashed, go to: Social Security Benefit Search