How to Claim Florida Lottery Prizes

How to Claim Prizes

Congratulations on winning a Florida Lottery prize! Now it’s time to start the claims process. You have multiple options for claiming your winnings, depending on how much you won. Here’s how you can claim your winnings:

Prizes worth $599 or less

Visit any authorized Florida Lottery retailer or head to the Florida Lottery District Office.

Prizes between $600 and $1 million

If your game does not offer an annual payment option, please visit any Florida Lottery District Office. No appointment is necessary, although it’s recommended to call up in advance.

Prizes greater than $1 million, or with an annual payment option

You need to claim at the Florida Lottery Headquarters, except for the Mega Millions and Powerball prizes, which can be claimed at any Florida Lottery District Office.

Claim By Mail

Can’t make it to Florida to claim your prize? If your prize is $250,000 or less, you have the option to claim by mail. Simply mail your ticket to the Florida Lottery along with the required documentation. The address is as follows:

Claims Processing
Florida Lottery
250 Marriott Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32399-9939

When should the envelope be postmarked?

- Scratch-Offs: On or before the 60th day after the scratch-off’s official end.
- Draw Games: On or before the 180th day after the winning draw.

Payment Options

Annual Payments

This option is available for jackpot prizes won with Florida Lotto, Mega Millions, and Powerball. You will receive your payment in 30 annual installments. For Cash for Life, grand prizes and second prizes will be paid out for the rest of the winner’s life. (If the winner passes away within 20 years of winning, the remainder of the prize is paid to their estate until the 20-year limit is reached.)

Cash/Lump-Sum Payment

Instead of receiving your winnings over time, you can opt for a one-time cash payment. Its amount varies by game and the value of the prize. The cash option must be chosen within 60 days from the winning draw. In case you miss this deadline, you will receive your prize in annual payments.

Prize Claim Cut-Off

You must claim your prize within 180 days if you have won a draw game, or if you played a scratch-off game, the limit is 60 days after the game closes. Moreover, any prizes won with games that offer a choice of payment (either cash or annuity) must be claimed within 60 days if you want to go for the annuity.

What you need to provide

When claiming any prize worth $600 or more, you’ll need to provide some Identity Documents. You’ll need a completed Winner Claim Form or Entity Claim Form, along with some ID. Of course, you’ll also need to show your winning ticket/scratch-off. Your ID must be in-date, issued within the past five years, and have a serial number or any other identifying number. This could be:

• ID card or driver’s license,
• Passport,
• Any other form of identification authorized for use by notaries public in Section 117.05(5)(b)2., Florida Statutes.

Scams

If you are not sure whether you won a prize, it’s best to contact the Florida Lottery directly. Lottery players are often targeted by con artists, so make sure you are not a victim of a scam. Follow the link to read more about Scams, how to identify them, and how to protect yourself.

Taxes

Taxes are a complicated topic, and what each winner owes is different depending on their circumstances. If you’ve won a taxable amount, we would recommend contacting a tax adviser to help manage your winnings.

Staying Anonymous

In Florida, winners cannot remain anonymous. By law, Florida Lottery has to disclose the following information should it be requested by a third party:

• Your name,
• Your city,
• Which game you won,
• The date of the winning draw,
• and the amount you won.