Canadians are sitting on nearly $2 billion in uncashed federal government cheques, according to internal documents, highlighting a little-known issue affecting hundreds of thousands of people across the country.
The uncashed cheques date back several years and include payments issued by the federal government for tax refunds, benefits, pensions, employment insurance, and other programs. Officials say many recipients may be unaware that money is still owed to them, often because cheques were misplaced, addresses changed, or recipients assumed payments had already been deposited.
Government records indicate that a significant portion of the unclaimed amount belongs to seniors, low-income Canadians, and people who were eligible for benefits or refunds but never cashed the cheques. In some cases, the cheques are decades old but remain valid, as federal cheques in Canada do not expire.
The Canada Revenue Agency and other federal departments have been encouraging Canadians to switch to direct deposit, which reduces the risk of missed or lost payments. Officials say cheques are more likely to go uncashed when people move, change names, or fail to update their contact information.
Advocacy groups say the scale of unclaimed funds raises concerns about access and awareness, particularly for vulnerable populations who may need the money most. They are calling for stronger outreach efforts to help Canadians identify and claim funds owed to them.
Canadians can check whether they have uncashed federal cheques through government services that allow individuals to search for outstanding payments using their personal information. Authorities say efforts are ongoing to reunite people with their money, but acknowledge that awareness remains low.
The documents underline a broader shift by the federal government toward digital payments, as Ottawa seeks to reduce administrative costs and ensure that public funds reach recipients more efficiently.