Hundreds of thousands of California residents have not spent money they received through the state’s inflation relief program. Funds on the debit cards will expire after April 30 and cannot be recovered, according to ABC7.
Middle Class Tax Refund program details
The Middle Class Tax Refund was a large-scale California initiative launched in 2022 to offset inflation impacts. State officials mailed debit cards containing between $200 and $1,050 to residents based on income and family size. The cards were issued through a payment system with limited validity periods.
ABC7 reports that Californians still hold cards with unspent funds totaling millions of dollars. The outlet did not specify exact numbers of unactivated or partially used cards, but cited hundreds of thousands of recipients.
Why funds remain unspent
Some recipients may not have realized the plastic card that arrived in an unremarkable envelope contained real money. Cards could have been lost in transit or discarded with junk mail. Other recipients used cards partially and forgot about remaining balances.
April 30 deadline approaching
Cardholders must spend remaining funds by April 30, 2025. Cards can be used at stores, ATMs for cash withdrawals, or to transfer balances to bank accounts. Unused funds will be forfeited after the expiration date, according to ABC7.
Recipients can check card balances on the program website or by calling the number on the card’s back. Those who lost cards should request replacements immediately, as processing time is now limited to days.
Significance for Bay Area residents
The Bay Area ranks among the nation’s most expensive regions, where several hundred dollars can cover a week’s groceries for a family or utility bills. The Middle Class Tax Refund covered a broad range of state taxpayers, including residents of San Francisco, San José, Oakland and other regional cities. A significant portion of unclaimed funds likely belongs to residents in the Bay Area’s densely populated counties.
Less than a week remains before the deadline. Residents with cards still in desk drawers should check balances immediately — after April 30, the money will be lost.
Source: ABC7