Life is expensive. The majority of Americans are underwater when it comes to monthly overhead, and for many, the idea of saving for the future is, at best, a luxurious thought. And yet, right now, literally trillions of dollars are sitting in dormant accounts, doing absolutely nothing. There’s a non-zero chance that one of them has your name on it. 

This should technically be old news, if it weren’t for the fact that so many people still haven’t claimed these accounts — because the total amount of funds in these forgotten 401(k)s is staggering.

Nearly 30 million forgotten defined-contribution accounts, like 401(k)s and similar plans, remain inactive in employer-sponsored retirement plans at companies people have since left, while the money stayed behind. Altogether, these accounts hold approximately $1.6 trillion in assets, still waiting to be claimed by their rightful owners. And if you happen to discover that you’re one of those people, no shame: Job-hopping is part of life, and life gets busy. It’s too easy to forget an old account, let alone your Hulu password. 

There’s Now an Easy Way to Find Your Money

Back in November, the Department of Labor launched a lost-and-found tool for private-sector employees. It’s simple to use: Upload a photo of your driver’s license (front and back), enter a few personal details, and the system tracks down any accounts tied to your information.  

The site is a huge convenience compared to how difficult searching for old 401(k)s used to be. There literally could be thousands of dollars waiting, dormant but still yours.

Once You’ve Found Your Funds, Here’s What to Do Next

It is worth stating the obvious: Don’t just cash them out. Roll them over as soon as possible into a new retirement account. Even if you’re not ready to contribute much of anything right now, moving the money gives it the chance to grow again.