You may have forgotten money to claim!

Have you ever stopped to think that you might have amounts to be received Is your money hidden in some bank account, an old account, or an employment benefit? Well, this is more common than it seems. Thousands of Brazilians have discovered they had money stored away without even knowing it, and in most cases, the money was in programs like... PIS/PASEP, in inactive accounts or even in financial institutions that ceased operations years ago.

But what exactly are these? amounts to be received And why do they stand there for so long without anyone noticing?

What are accounts receivable?

“"Amounts receivable" is the term given to sums of money that are registered with financial institutions but, for some reason, have not been claimed by their owners. This can happen due to forgetfulness, account closure, change of address, death of the account holder, or even lack of information.

The Central Bank created a system specifically to gather these balances and make life easier for those who want to know if they have money saved. It's a kind of "lost and found" for the financial world, but much more interesting because it involves real assets that may be in your name.

Why does this money get forgotten?

There are several reasons why money ends up sitting idle. Among the most common are:

1# Old accounts — Sometimes, a person closes an account, forgets there was a small balance, and never requests a withdrawal.

2# Employee benefits Many workers who contributed to the PIS/PASEP Between 1971 and 1988, they don't know they still have quotas available.

3# Unclaimed refunds Some consortium refunds, improperly charged bank fees, or account adjustments may generate credit in the customer's name.

4# Death of policyholders — When the account holder dies, the funds remain registered under their CPF (Brazilian taxpayer ID) until the heirs claim them.

5# Change of institution Banks that have been merged or dissolved may leave funds retained in the names of former account holders.

Many people think these values disappear, but they remain stored and available for consultation.

How much money might be sitting idle?

The amounts vary considerably. In some cases, they are small sums, just a few reais, but there are also stories of people who found... thousands of reais forgotten. The total amount of money sitting idle in Brazil amounts to billions, adding together old accounts, PIS/PASEP quotas and bank credits.

Here's an interesting fact: according to the Central Bank, most people who check the system find some balance, even if small. In other words, it's worth checking; sometimes it's enough to pay off a bill or make an unexpected purchase.

Types of forgotten money

The amounts to be received They can come from different origins. Among the most common are:

  • Checking or savings accounts closed with a positive balance..
  • Unfair charges for fees or banking service packages..
  • PIS/PASEP quotas not withdrawn by workers or heirs.
  • Consortium loans Finished years ago.
  • Credit union balances.
  • Old financial applications that were not rescued.

Any institution that handles your money may have left something in your name without you even knowing it.

How to redeem PIS/PASEP quotas

If your money is related to PIS/PASEP, The process is slightly different, but equally simple.
These quotas are managed by Federal Savings Bank, ...and the funds can be withdrawn even by heirs.

See the step-by-step instructions:

  • Access the FGTS app or go to an agency of Box.
  • Tell us your CPF e date of birth.
  • The system will show if there are PIS/PASEP quotas available.
  • If there is a balance, you can request a direct withdrawal in the app by choosing [option to withdraw funds]. receive via Pix or transfer to account.

Heirs must present documents proving the family relationship and the death of the deceased.

It's yours by right!

The forgotten money is neither a new benefit nor a prize. It's your right. It's registered under your CPF (Brazilian tax identification number) and can be transferred in minutes.

In times of financial hardship, discovering an unexpected balance is almost like finding a forgotten bill in your pants pocket, except in this case, it could be much more than that. So, it's worth taking a few minutes to check. Perhaps the money you need is already saved, waiting to be deposited into your account.

See also: 8 best apps for financial control based on the Bible

Published on November 9, 2025