The Wage and Hour Division (WHD) enforces some of our nation’s most comprehensive labor laws. When they find violations, they often recover unpaid wages on behalf of employees. The agency makes every effort to locate and notify all employees due back wages. If they cannot find an employee, they hold their back wages for three years while they continue their efforts to locate them. After three years, if they remain unable to find the person, they are required to send the money to the U.S. Treasury.
If you think you may be owed back wages collected by WHD, you can search their database of workers for whom they have money waiting to be claimed. If you find that you are due money, you can submit a claim. Begin by entering the employer’s name, then click “WOW Search”.