Some of the thousands of lottery winners who had their earnings snatched by the state are starting to receive their cash after a massive mix-up.
The Daily Star previously reported that Florida lottery winners were having their cash wins “illegally withheld” by the Sunshine State because of a system error that made it appear they were overpaid in unemployment benefits.
Most winners claimed they weren’t overpaid with some even producing checks to prove it, but all were left gobsmacked when told they wouldn’t be getting a dime of their winnings.
READ MORE: Lottery winners are having prizes snatched by the state due to ‘simple mistake’
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(Image: ABC Action News)
Brittany Wilson, from Florida, thought she might be in with a chance of wiping some of her debts when she won £3,930 on the lottery. However, when she turned up to collect the cash she was turned away empty handed and slapped with a possible debt owed to the state.
Wilson said: “It was hard for me during that time. I was financially struggling … something just told me to go to the store and try out my winnings. I was thinking about all the bills that I have held up, just paying those off.”
State officials claimed Wilson’s prize was being withheld because she had been overpaid when unemployed and receiving state benefits. But now, following an investigation by the ABC Action News I-Team, winners including Wilson are starting to be paid what they’re owed.
(Image: Getty Images)
Researchers over the past year have sent the names and information of more than 540 Floridians to the state’s unemployment office, which is known as the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) to help them get their winnings. Many have now revealed to the I-Team they didn’t actually owe the state a dime.
Wilson said she was only able to collect her lottery winnings two weeks after the I-Team contacted the state on her behalf, but added something needs to change so it doesn’t happen again. “Especially with, you know, the times now where everything is going up, and rent’s going up, food’s going up. Let me have this money,” Wilson said.
(Image: WPEC)
The I-Team first learned of this issue from a mum in Seminole in January 2023 who was at a loss for what to do. After being unable to collect her $1,000 scratch-off ticket lottery win, she told the team: “Please help me! I have 3 kids and my mother I’m taking care of.
“Those winnings were life-saving for me. I cannot grasp how my DEO account shows no receipt of payment, no over-payment balance EVER – and yet they can just take my money with no rhyme, reason, explanation, or even receipt!”
And after the I-Team contacted the DEO on her behalf, like magic the mum received a call saying she’d be getting a full refund. DEO told the I-Team it notifies claimants regarding any outstanding issues on current and/or previous unemployment claims through their accounts. But most, unless they are actively collecting unemployment, don’t think of checking an account for unemployment they may not have claimed in years.
Hilde McMillen, 82, told I-Team of her experience: “My $1,000 was sitting at the unemployment office and nobody did nothing until we seen your segment on TV.” After the team contacted the office on her behalf, McMillen said: “Two days later, the unemployment office called me and said, ‘we’re going to send you your money’.”
Have you had your lottery winnings withheld? Get in touch at abigail.hunt@reachplc.com
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