How to Claim Prizes in New Jersey

Claiming a lottery prize is the main aim for anyone who buys a ticket, and it’s a really simple process in New Jersey. The options available to you depend on how much you win, and there are just a few points to remember to make sure you don’t miss out on your money. Find out everything you need to know about how to claim.

Claim Period

You have one year from the draw date to claim any prizes you win. After a year has passed, your ticket becomes invalid and you would not be eligible for a payout if you did come forward, regardless of the circumstances of the delay.

For scratch-off prizes, there is even more time to redeem winnings. The one-year deadline for a ticket is only activated after the announced end date of the game in question.

Prizes Below $600

If you win a prize of up to $599.99, it couldn’t be much easier to claim your money. All you need to do is take your ticket to a local New Jersey Lottery retailer and, after it has been scanned and validated, you’ll receive your prize in cash. You can also claim prizes of this value by mail.

It is a good idea to sign the back of your ticket as soon as you buy it or, failing that, as soon as you find out you’ve won. This shows that you are the owner and would prevent anyone else from claiming your prize if the ticket got lost or stolen.

Prizes of $600 and Above

You won’t be able to cash in a prize of more than $600 at your local gas station or convenience store, so you’ll have to either claim it by mail or visit the NJ Lottery Headquarters in person. Either way, you’ll need to complete a claim form

If you’re mailing in your ticket, make a copy of the front and back of your ticket - and the claim form - to protect yourself in case there is a delay or your envelope goes missing. The address for mail-in claims is shown below:

New Jersey Lottery
Attn: Validations
P.O. Box 041
Trenton, NJ 08625-0041

It can take up to six weeks for claims to be processed due to the volume of claims. You will be contacted if the NJ Lottery requires any more information. If you would prefer to claim your prize in person, you can go to lottery HQ at the following address:

One Lawrence Park Complex
1333 Brunswick Avenue Circle
Trenton, NJ 08648

Damaged Tickets

If you have a ticket that you know, or think, could be a winner, but it is damaged or cannot be scanned at a retailer, you should file a claim. Mail in the ticket and write a note to explain the issue - the NJ Lottery may investigate whether you are entitled to a prize.

Claiming Through a Lottery Courier

An increasingly popular way to play lotteries in New Jersey is through lottery couriers such as Jackpot.com, where you order your tickets online and an agent goes out to buy them on your behalf. A scanned copy is then uploaded to your account. This brings a lot of benefits in terms of claiming prizes too, as payouts up to $600 are simply credited to your online account. You will always be notified of a win, and if you land a bigger prize the ticket will be delivered to you quickly so that you can claim it from the NJ Lottery.

Tax

If you win a prize of more than $5,000, a federal tax of at least 24 percent will be applied. Win more than $10,000 and a state withholding of 5 percent also kicks in. This goes up to 8 percent for prizes in excess of $50,000. You should be aware that this higher rate also applies to any winner of more than $10,000 who is not able to provide their Social Security number.

Anonymity

You are allowed to remain anonymous if you win a major lottery prize in New Jersey. This was not an option before January 2020, as state law previously viewed winner information as a matter of public record, but new legislation was passed to protect lucky ticket holders. You can also claim through a legal trust or limited liability company.

Annuity Prizes

If you win the jackpot in a game such as Mega Millions, Powerball or Cash4Life, the money is paid out as either an annuity over a period of many years, or a cash sum. You have to select which option you would want when you buy your ticket, and if you choose the cash you cannot change your mind at a later date. If you choose the annuity at the time of purchase, or don’t pick an option and it defaults to say annuity on your ticket, you can change this decision when you claim.