How To Claim A Prize If You Win A Lottery In New York?
Claiming prize after winning a lottery is the fantastic thing to do. Each state in US generally offer the similar structure to claim a prize. Still some rules differ which you should know as how to claim a prize if you win a lottery in New York.
Claiming a prize depends on how much you have won. There are obviously few things you need to claim a prize if you win a lottery in New York
- To claim your prize, you will need the original ticket.
- For your protection, sign the back of your winning ticket and keep it safe because it is a bearer instrument.
- You may need to fill a claim form if the prize amount is higher
- Also may require certain verifications of your address or any other ID proof
How To Claim A Prize If You Win A Lottery In New York?
For winning upto $600
If your prize is up to and including $600 then you can claim it at any licensed New York Lottery retail location. To redeem your prize, all you need to provide is your winning ticket.
Or
Schedule an appointment at any of the Lottery’s Customer Service Centers
Or
Mail it to the Lottery
For both the above options you need
- For this you need your winning ticket
- Steps 1 through 11 filled out on the Claim Form
- A valid government-issued ID
For Winning $601 and Above
If your prize is $601 or more then you have the following options to claim your prize
Schedule an appointment and claim your prize at one of the Lottery’s Customer Service Centers , If you would like to claim your prize at a Lottery Customer Service Center, you must setup an appointment. Right now they are not able to accommodate walk-in service at this time.
Or
Redeem directly at a local Prize Center
Or
Mail it to the Lottery
To redeem your prize, you will need to provide
- Your winning ticket
- A filled-out Claim Form
- A valid government-issued ID
- A valid Social Security Number or FEIN
- Select Claim Form Language
- Submit
Claim Form – When to fill it for claiming prizes?
- If your prize is $600 and below, you will need to fill out Steps 1 through 11 on the Claim Form, a valid government-issued ID, and your winning ticket.
- If your prize is $601 or above, you will need to fill out the entire Claim Form (including your Social Security Number, TIN or FEIN), a valid government-issued ID, and your winning ticket.
Your claim will be processed on site unless your prize is a Jackpot win, a Mega Millions prize over $500,000 or a Powerball prize $50,000 and over. These claims will be provided to the Lottery’s Schenectady office for processing.
Make a copy of your Claim Form and winning ticket and hold onto them until you receive your prize.
As said above you need to Schedule an Appointment at Lottery Customer Service and Other Prize Claim Centers. The Lottery Customer Service Centers are open by appointment only.
Click here to schedule your appointment with the lottery officials now
You can find Customer Service and Prize Claim Centers near you from the New York lottery website.
After scheduling your appointment with the lotteries to claim a prize on winning New York Lottery you need to provide your email to receive appointment confirmation and instructions and then submit that online on the lottery website.
If you are using the mail option to claim your lottery wins then all winning tickets for all amounts may be mailed to the address below. If your prize is $601 and above, complete the ticket back and include a completed Claim Form. Make a copy of the front and back of your ticket, as well as the completed Claim Form. The NY Lotto recommends you to use registered mail to track your mailing. Also make sure to include a return address:
New York Lottery PO Box 7533 Schenectady, NY 12301-7533
Draw Game prizes must be claimed within one year of the draw date. Scratch-Off Game prizes must be claimed within one year from the announced end of the game.
How To Take Cash Payments For Your Jackpot Lottery Wins?
For Scratchies: Scratch-Off Games only offer the jackpot prize as one lump-sum payment, however, as of May 1, 2013, a new Scratch-Off Game annuity jackpot claimant now has the choice of a lump sum prize payment or the announced annuity payment.
Each Scratch-Off Game has features that help to identify whether it is a winning ticket. In addition to the number and/or symbols used for game play, each has a caption printed under it with either the spelling of the number or an abbreviation of the number. Both the number and caption must match to identify a winning ticket and the validation codes on the ticket must match the Lottery’s computer records for the game. You can also take your Scratch-Off Game to a retailer or scan it with New York Lottery mobile app to confirm its status.
For all Lotto, Mega Millions, Powerball, or Cash4Life there are two jackpot payment options available if you win a jackpot prize from any of these games: annuity payments or lump sum cash value. Whether you choose lump sum or annual payments, all payments are made by direct deposit wire two to three business days after the required press event.
You don’t have to choose a jackpot payment option at the time of purchase. If you win a jackpot, you will have up to 60 days to choose from the date you claim your prize at a Lottery Customer Service Center.
“For Life” prizes may be paid annually or as a one-time payment, depending on how you choose to receive your prize. When you come in to claim your ticket, your options will be discussed.
The bonus prize of a Take Five Quick Pick is called a Free Play. It can be redeemed at any retailer location within 45 days of the draw date.
Once your prize claim has been approved by the Lottery, and the Press and Community Relations Office completes your media announcement, your lump sum or initial payment will be electronically transferred to the bank account of your choice.
Winning tickets must be cashed in the state in which you purchased them. This is because the states with Cash4Life, Mega Millions, and Powerball run independent computer systems that can’t process or validate tickets from the other states.
You may be required to attend and participate in a press event and public announcement. The New York Lottery is a government agency and Lottery prizes are public funds, so they owe it to all their players to disclose the names of winners. If you’re a Lottery winner, your name and city of residence may be public information, but they won’t release your street address or telephone number.
The Lottery requires personal information from prize winners pursuant to its authority under Tax law Section 1604 to operate and administer the New York Lottery, which includes the marketing and advertising of the Lottery and the identification of the person entitled to a prize award. The Lottery may defer the determination of a prize claim pending a claimant’s participation in a news conference, announcement, the conclusion of any investigation, or litigation concerning the right to a prize.
Important thing to remember is that All Lottery tickets are bearer instruments, meaning the tickets are like currency. If you lose your ticket and it does not have your signature on it, anyone can use the ticket to claim a prize. If you lose your ticket, please contact a Customer Service Center. Remember to always sign the back of your tickets right away.
Even if you die The Lottery will continue making payments to the original prize winner, the estate of a deceased prize winner, or whoever the Lottery is ordered to pay pursuant to an appropriate judicial order. This is according to New York State Tax Law Section 1613. Lottery payments will not be accelerated upon a prize winner’s death. (source: NY Lottery Website)
How To Contact The Lottery?
You can contact the lottery officials by email:
gaming.sm.ContactUs-NYLWebsite@gaming.ny.gov
Or
Contact by Phone:
Main Office: (518) 388-3300
Media Inquiries: (518) 388-3415
Security Office: (518) 388-3416
Or
Contact by Mail:
NYS Gaming Commission
One Broadway Center
P.O. Box 7500 Schenectady,
NY 12301-7500