How to Claim New Jersey (NJ)
Lottery Prizes
Claim a New Jersey Lottery prize under $600 at any retailer and $600 or more at New Jersey Lottery Headquarters (Claim Center) in Lawrence Township, within one year of the drawing. Prizes of $600 or more can be claimed by mail.
Where to Claim Your New Jersey Lottery Prize
Won? You have one year to cash it in.
Where to Cash a Winning Ticket
Where you can cash a New Jersey Lottery prize depends on how much it is.
- Under $600Just the signed ticket
- Any lottery retailer
- $600–$99,999Claim form and ID
- By mail
- New Jersey Lottery Headquarters (Claim Center) by appointment
- $100K+Claim form and ID
- New Jersey Lottery Headquarters (Claim Center) by appointment
- By mail
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Play scratch-offs too?Up to x46.2 better jackpot odds
For $50K to $5M+ jackpots on the best New Jersey scratch-offs. ScratchOdds ranks all 72 by today's odds.
For $50K to $5M+ jackpots on the best New Jersey scratch-offs.
Get the Free AppSee the Best Ones
Good to Know
Claim deadline
One year after the drawing
Take a jackpot's cash option within 60 days of claiming the prize.
When you're paid
Retailers pay prizes up to $599.99 in cash on the spot.
Claim by mail
$600 or more
New Jersey Lottery, Claim Center, P.O. Box 041, Trenton, NJ 08625-0041, Attn: Validations
Taxes on winnings
24% federal withheld over $5,000
State tax up to 10.75% over $10,000; 5% withheld over $10,000, 8% over $500,000. See your take-home
Can you stay anonymous?
Yes
New Jersey Lottery Claim Forms
From $600, bring your signed ticket, ID and a completed claim form.
Full checklist (7 items)
- The original winning ticket, signed on the back the same way you sign the claim form
- For a prize of $600 or more, a completed and signed Winner Claim Form, from a retailer or njlottery.com
- Proof of identification, such as a driver's license, an ID issued by a public agency, a passport, a Permanent Resident Card or a U.S. Armed Forces ID
- Your Social Security or taxpayer ID number. A winner without one who isn't a U.S. citizen gives their passport's country and number, with a copy of the passport
- For a prize of $1,000,000 or more, a copy of your Social Security card, driver's license or passport
- The validation slip, if the retailer printed one when it checked your ticket
- For a group sharing a prize, IRS Form 5754
New Jersey Lottery Headquarters (Claim Center)
Bring your ticket, claim form and ID. Booking an appointment is recommended. Claims for prizes of $600 or more at New Jersey Lottery Headquarters (Claim Center) in Lawrence Township are by appointment.
New Jersey Lottery Headquarters (Claim Center)
Lawrence Park Complex, 1333 Brunswick Avenue Circle, Lawrence Township, NJ 08648Appointment recommendedHours: Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–4:30 PMPhone: 609-599-5800
More Claim Rules
- Cash or annuity
- For Pick-6, Powerball, Mega Millions and Millionaire for Life's top two prizes, you choose Cash Option or Annuity when you buy, and a ticket with no choice is Annuity. Cash is final. An Annuity choice can be switched to cash when you claim, within 60 days of the claim.
- Claiming in the app
- Prizes from $600 to $10,000 can be claimed in the New Jersey Lottery app with a VIP Club account: scan the ticket, fill in the claim and upload the documents it asks for. You're paid by check or direct deposit, and you keep the signed ticket until you're paid.
- Drop box
- Claim forms with their signed tickets can be left in a secure drop box at the Claim Center at Lottery Headquarters, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Claim forms are available there.
- Appointments
- Winners of $100,000 or more are asked to call 800-222-0996 to make an appointment to claim in person at Lottery Headquarters. A jackpot or other large prize winner, or anyone who'd rather claim with a Lottery representative, can ask for one too. Claiming in person doesn't mean being paid that day.
- Tickets checked at a retailer
- A winning ticket scanned at a retailer before its year to claim runs out, then mailed in, must reach Lottery Headquarters within 30 days after that year ends.
- Instant Match prizes
- Instant Match prizes must be claimed within one year of the day the ticket was bought.
- Debts owed
- Judgment liens, tax levies, unpaid child support and other debts owed to government agencies can be taken out of a prize before it's paid.
- Group wins
- A group names one contact person, who signs the claim form with their Social Security number and attaches IRS Form 5754 to share the prize and its taxes. A married couple filing a joint tax return can file one claim form.
- Staying anonymous
- Winners stay anonymous unless they waive it in writing on the claim form, though they must identify themselves to claim. The lottery does announce the game, the prize amount, and the retailer and town that sold the winning ticket.
Reviewed by Bishop Woosley, former Director of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery and NASPL President.
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More New Jersey Lottery Help
Check your numbers, the best scratch-offs, and claiming in other states.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Answers about the New Jersey Lottery
Where can I claim lottery winnings in New Jersey?
Under $600: Any lottery retailer. $600 to $99,999: By mail or New Jersey Lottery Headquarters (Claim Center) by appointment. $100,000 or more: New Jersey Lottery Headquarters (Claim Center) by appointment or by mail.
Where can I cash a $1,000 lottery ticket in New Jersey?
Not at a store: New Jersey Lottery retailers pay prizes up to $599. $600 to $99,999: By mail or New Jersey Lottery Headquarters (Claim Center) by appointment.
What time can you cash lottery tickets in New Jersey?
Any New Jersey Lottery retailer cashes prizes up to $599 whenever it's open. New Jersey Lottery Headquarters (Claim Center) is open Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM.
What should I do if I win the New Jersey Lottery?
Sign your ticket and keep it safe, then claim it within one year of the drawing. Under $600: Any lottery retailer. $600 to $99,999: By mail or New Jersey Lottery Headquarters (Claim Center) by appointment. $100,000 or more: New Jersey Lottery Headquarters (Claim Center) by appointment or by mail. From $600, bring your signed ticket, ID and a completed claim form.
How long do you have to claim a New Jersey Lottery prize?
One year after the drawing. A jackpot's cash option must be chosen within 60 days of claiming the prize.
Do New Jersey Lottery tickets expire?
Yes. A winning ticket must be claimed within one year of the drawing, or the prize can no longer be paid.
What do I need to claim a New Jersey Lottery prize?
At a store, a prize up to $599 needs just the signed ticket. From $600: The original winning ticket, signed on the back the same way you sign the claim form; For a prize of $600 or more, a completed and signed Winner Claim Form, from a retailer or njlottery.com; Proof of identification, such as a driver's license, an ID issued by a public agency, a passport, a Permanent Resident Card or a U.S. Armed Forces ID; Your Social Security or taxpayer ID number. A winner without one who isn't a U.S. citizen gives their passport's country and number, with a copy of the passport; For a prize of $1,000,000 or more, a copy of your Social Security card, driver's license or passport; The validation slip, if the retailer printed one when it checked your ticket; For a group sharing a prize, IRS Form 5754.
Do I need an appointment at New Jersey Lottery Headquarters (Claim Center)?
For prizes of $600 or more, yes: claims at New Jersey Lottery Headquarters (Claim Center) in Lawrence Township are by appointment.
Can I claim a New Jersey Lottery prize by mail?
Yes, prizes of $600 or more. Mail the signed ticket, with any copies the New Jersey Lottery asks for, to New Jersey Lottery, Claim Center, P.O. Box 041, Trenton, NJ 08625-0041, Attn: Validations. Prizes from $600 also need a completed claim form.
How long does it take to get New Jersey Lottery winnings?
Retailers pay prizes up to $599.99 in cash on the spot. Claims of $600 or more, mailed, dropped off, made in person or filed in the app, are paid by check or direct deposit in about 4 to 6 weeks.
Can you claim lottery winnings anonymously in New Jersey?
Yes.
Can I claim a New Jersey Lottery prize online?
For some prizes, yes: prizes from $600 to $10,000 can be claimed in the New Jersey Lottery app with a VIP Club account: scan the ticket, fill in the claim and upload the documents it asks for. Otherwise, claim in person or by mail.
What is the New Jersey Lottery phone number?
800-222-0996 for customer service. New Jersey Lottery Headquarters (Claim Center): 609-599-5800.
Where is New Jersey Lottery headquarters?
New Jersey Lottery Headquarters (Claim Center) is at Lawrence Park Complex, 1333 Brunswick Avenue Circle, Lawrence Township, NJ 08648, open Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM. Call 609-599-5800.
Are lottery winnings taxed in New Jersey?
New Jersey taxes lottery winnings at up to 10.75% on prizes over $10,000, and federal income tax applies too. 24% federal tax is withheld from prizes over $5,000, plus 5% state tax from prizes over $10,000, rising to 8% state tax from prizes over $500,000.
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