HARRISBURG, Pa. (WENY) - $4.5 billion of property is waiting to be claimed by Pennsylvania residents. The Pennsylvania Treasury, which handles the unclaimed property, reached a new milestone in its effort to return the property to its rightful owners. 

State Treasurer Stacy Garrity and the Pennsylvania Treasury Department closed Fiscal Year 2022-23 with a pretty big accomplishment. 

“We returned over $273 million worth of unclaimed property during the last fiscal year- a new record for Pennsylvania Treasury Department,” said Garrity. 

The record-breaking amount of unclaimed property includes dormant bank accounts, abandoned stocks, uncashed checks, and more.  

“It doesn't belong to me or the state. It belongs to the hardworking taxpayers who earned it,” said Garrity. 

Tangible property, often from forgotten safety deposit boxes, is waiting for it’s rightful owners in the Pa. Treasury vault, the largest working vault in the country, comprised of more than 400 tons of steel. 

Tangible items, except for military medals, are auctioned after three years. However, the proceeds remain available to claim in perpetuity. With an automated system and direct depositing, Garrity says it's easier than ever before to check for, and obtain, unclaimed property. 

“We upgraded our system in 2021 and we've worked really hard to get through a lot of those claims,” said Garrity. 

With $4.5 billion still unclaimed, Garrity says there’s still work to be done. About one-in-ten Pennsylvanians have unclaimed property, averaging roughly $1,600. 

“That money could really help a struggling family, especially right now, when they're trying to make ends meet,” said Garrity. 

A program called Pennsylvania Money Match could simplify the process even further. Legislation to enact it was recently approved by the Senate. Garrity says it would allow Treasury to automatically return single owner property up to $5,000.  

“This would be a huge benefit for hardworking families across the state, many of whom don't even know that they have unclaimed property,” said Garrity.