Seven million Australians could have a stake in a $19 billion pool of lost and unclaimed superannuation, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) says.
The average amount owed is $2,590, according to the ATO, and deputy commissioner Ben Kelly says it's "quick and easy" to reclaim.
"Checking for lost or unclaimed super is like reaching into your pocket and finding a $50 note, it’s your money, you just didn’t know it was there," Kelly said.
"Your super can become lost if your account is inactive, and your fund can’t contact you. If you’ve changed jobs, moved house or simply forgotten to update your details, you may have lost or unclaimed super."
Australians might have unclaimed super if they've changed jobs, moved house, forgotten to update their details, or if they simply have multiple superannuation accounts.
"Around 4 million individuals hold two or more super accounts. It's important to know how many super accounts you have, and to consider if appropriate to consolidate your super to reduce fees and make it easier to manage," Kelly said.
How to check if you have unclaimed superannuation
You can check if you have lost or unclaimed super by checking your myGov account, using the ATO app, or phoning the lost super search line on 13 28 65.
Money you could be owed: Lost bank accounts, shares and more
On top superannuation, you could have a slice of an additional $2.3 billion of lost money to be claimed from bank accounts, shares, investments and life insurance policies, according to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
This money is managed by the ASIC and comes from accounts that haven't been touched for a certain period, usually seven years of inactivity.
Cash is transferred to ASIC if the account or policy isn't claimed, which can happen if you move, change address, or forget to update your details.
Other potential sources include energy companies, universities and health funds, among plenty of others.
How to check if you have unclaimed money
To check if you have unclaimed money, you can use the unclaimed money search on ASIC's Moneysmart website.
State governments will also have their own records where you might find lost money from deceased estates, lost share dividends, salaries and wages, cheques, overpayments and more.
To check for unclaimed money in your state's database, head to the relevant state website below:
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