Pennsylvania's new Money Match program is officially being put to use. Over $1.7 million of unclaimed property is being returned to commonwealth residents through checks in the mail this week.

Normally, Pennsylvanians have to go on the treasury website to see if they have unclaimed property, and then there is paperwork to claim that property.

Money match is a new law that allows the treasury department to automatically return property if it is less than $500 and belongs to a single individual.

The first batch of checks from this new law is in the mail today.

"This week I will be receiving a check in the mail for $494.07. This is money that has always belonged to me, but somehow got overlooked,” Nina Hard said, a Dauphin county resident who will receive a money match check. “So if you get one of these checks in the mail, do not overlook it. Open it and cash it. They are real and legitimate and the money belongs to you."

Legislators want to expand this program in the future. For right now, more checks will be heading out in the summer and fall. The department expects to return over $10 million in funds.

There is over$4.5 billion of unclaimed property in the Treasury.