How to Claim a Cash for Life Payout
Claiming a Cash for Life payout is a simple process, but it’s not the same for everyone. The options you have depend on how much you have won and where you purchased your ticket. Use the guide below to make claiming your prize an easy process.
It is your responsibility to claim a prize. State lottery operators do not know who has won, so it is up to you to come forward. Here are a couple of important points to note before the claims process even starts.
- Keep your ticket safe after you buy it and make sure to check the numbers after a draw. It is a good idea to sign the back of a ticket for a couple of reasons – nobody else would be able to claim a prize with it, and if you happen to lose your ticket there is a better chance of being reunited with it.
- Remember how long you have to claim, as deadlines vary from state to state. The time you have to redeem your winnings is based on where you bought your ticket, not where you live. For example, if you’re a resident of New York but you actually played when you were in Miami on a weekend away, you would need to claim your prize from the Florida Lottery.
The table below shows the claim period for each of the participating states:
| State | Claim Period |
|---|---|
| Florida | 180 days |
| Georgia | 180 days |
| Indiana | 180 days |
| Maryland | 182 days |
| Missouri | 180 days |
| New Jersey | 1 year |
| New York | 1 year |
| Pennsylvania | 1 year |
| Tennessee | 180 days |
| Virginia | 180 days |
Prizes of Different Values
Follow these guidelines to help you claim a Cash for Life prize. You can also go to the Where to Play page for more state-specific details.
Below $600
Win a prize below $600 (six of the nine fixed payouts in Cash for Life are below this value) and you can simply take your winning ticket to a retailer to claim your prize. If there is not enough cash in-store, they may be able to arrange a check or money order. Alternatively, you can mail in your ticket to the relevant state lottery.
$600 and Over
If you land a prize of more than $600, for example the Tier 3 Cash for Life payout of $2,500 for matching four main numbers and the Cash Ball, you will need to complete a claim form. You’ll also need to provide proof of your Social Security number or Federal Tax ID number, and a form of government-issued photo ID such as your passport or driver’s license that shows you are at least 18 years old.
You won’t be able to visit a local retailer. Instead, you will either need to mail in your ticket or visit one of your state lottery’s claim centers or district offices. The addresses for mail-in claims are shown below, along with the locations of each state’s claim centers.
| State | Address for Mail-in Claims | Cities with District Offices/Claim Centers |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | Florida Lottery Claims Processing 250 Marriott Drive Tallahassee, FL 32399-9939 |
Fort Myers, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Pensacola, Tallahassee, Tampa, West Palm Beach |
| Georgia | Georgia Lottery Corporation P.O. Box 56966 Atlanta, GA 30343 |
Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Dalton, Duluth, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Macon, Savannah, Tifton |
| Indiana | Hoosier Lottery 1302 North Meridian Street, Suite 100 Indianapolis, IN 46202 |
Evansville, Indianapolis, Mishawaka |
| Maryland | Maryland Lottery 1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 330 Baltimore, MD 21230 |
Baltimore (prizes under $5,000 can also be claimed at XCAP retail locations and Maryland casinos) |
| Missouri | Ticket Redemption Missouri Lottery PO Box 7777 Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777 |
Jefferson City, Kansas City, Springfield, St Louis |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Lottery Attn: Validations P.O. Box 041 Trenton NJ 08625-0041 |
Trenton |
| New York | New York Lottery PO Box 7533 Schenectady, NY 12301-7533 |
Batavia, Buffalo, Farmington, Fishkill, Hamburg, Islandia, Jamaica, Monticello, New York City, Nichols, Plainview, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, Syracuse, Vernon, Yonkers |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Lottery ATTN: Claims PO Box 8671 Harrisburg, PA 17105-8671 |
Harrisburg (prizes of up to $2,500 can be claimed from retailers in PA) |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Lottery P.O. Box 290636 Nashville, TN 37229-0636 |
Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville |
| Virginia | Virginia Lottery Claims P.O. Box 1254 Richmond, VA 23218-1254 |
Abingdon, Farmville, Hampton, Harrisonburg, Roanoke, Richmond, Woodbridge |
Top Two Prizes
If you win one of the game's top two prizes, you can choose between lifetime payouts or a seven-figure lump sum. See the Cash vs Annuity page for more information. Whichever option you choose, you’ll need to contact the state lottery where you bought your ticket so that arrangements can be made for you to visit the head office in person to claim your prize. The addresses of the state lottery headquarters are displayed below.
| State | Address of Lottery HQ |
|---|---|
| Florida | 250 Marriott Drive Tallahassee, FL 32301 |
| Georgia | 250 Williams Street Suite 3000 Atlanta, GA 20303 |
| Indiana | 1302 North Meridian Street, 1st Floor Indianapolis, IN 46202 |
| Maryland | Montgomery Business Park 1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 330 Baltimore, MD 21230 |
| Missouri | 1823 Southbridge Drive Jefferson City, MO 65109-1603 |
| New Jersey | Lawrence Park Complex 1333 Brunswick Avenue Circle Trenton NJ 08648 |
| New York | New York Lottery 354 Broadway Schenectady, NY 12305 |
| Pennsylvania | 1200 Fulling Mill Road, Suite 2 Middletown, Harrisburg, PA 17057 |
| Tennessee | 26 Century Blvd. Nashville, TN 37214 |
| Virginia | 600 E. Main Street Richmond, VA 23219 |
If you claim a major prize, there are tax implications. Federal taxes are applied to prizes worth more than $5,000, while taxes may also be withheld at state level. Go to the Taxes page to see how you might be affected from state to state, but remember that your individual circumstances must also be considered so it is always a good idea to speak to a financial expert in the event of a big win.
Anonymity
Another important consideration for winners is whether to go public or stay anonymous. In some states, the decision is taken away from you and there is no option but to have your name revealed. Take a look at the page on Publicity Options to find out the rules where you live.