Letting Someone Else Claim My Powerball Winnings

Reply #28

RJOh — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:11:32 GMT

You are suppose to claim/report all your winnings but the states aren't required to issue a W-G for amounts less than $600. The $1200 might be for gambling tournaments and I think that has been changed too.

Reply #27

Todd — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:55:21 GMT

Just so you're aware, lottery winnings in most states (and from a Federal tax perspective) are considerd the same as regular wages. The word earn is not really applicable. The government doesn't care about the level of effort required to gain the income, only that you have it.

BTW, you definitely did the right thing by posting your question here, where you can gain the benefit of many people's views. Don't be put off when somebody posts something that seems attacking . Remember that pe... [ More ]

Reply #26

lottolaughs — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:47:16 GMT

What I can't fathom is why do you have to claim ANYTHING on a measly 800 bucks? (okay,maybe not so measly,it's a nice chunk of change)Maybe your state has different rules. I thought the minimum was $1200 before you had to report anything.

Reply #25

JAP69 — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 00:23:27 GMT

I have not seen any rules as to who can or can not play the lottery.

Got a dollar in your pocket, play the lottery if you want.

Yeah and how about those people playing numbers and keeping the win below tax reporting.

Reply #24

LuckyLilly — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 00:03:52 GMT

If indeed it is only $400, (and I just checked the Maine website and believe the $400 is the correct amount) you should be able to claim without filing any forms, thus no reports to gov't. agencies. Go to a lottery retailer and ask if they can cash a $400 ticket. Bet they can.

Don't let the naysayers in this thread get you down. I've seen several threads here that they play Pick 3 on different tickets so the winnings won't go over $600 and they won't have to report and be taxed on the winn... [ More ]

Reply #23

Gracie Girl — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 19:50:51 GMT

TeaRowz....Please do not feel guilty....Most if not all commenting have no idea what it is like to live week to week,paycheck to paycheck....Myself included...but I do have relatives that live this way,so I know it is difficult...Now I will say the amount you spent was in my opinion high..but you won and it paid off.... I say have a relative or friend claim you winnings...but rather they ask or not you give that person the money to cover the taxes and a generous tip....that is what I call fair

Reply #22

BaristaExpress — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 19:38:28 GMT

Hmmm, something I once read just came to mind, Thee that is free of sin, cast the first stone!

That is for all of those morality lesson people out there! And I wonder which of those even fudge even just a little on their taxes think that their cheating isn't all that bad. A Cheat, is A Cheat, no matter how you slice it . Take that dose of morality and put it in your pipe and smoke it!

Heck let me go with another one along those same lines. People who live in glass houses, shouldn't thro... [ More ]

Reply #21

Coin Toss — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 17:39:53 GMT

This thread makes me wonder how many posting and critcizing someone on disability playing a lotterry ticket would stop playing if they found themselves in the same situation.

Reply #20

justxploring — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 21:29:04 GMT

Great idea, Psykomo!

God Bless You, TeaRowz

Reply #19

psykomo — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 20:16:10 GMT

Congrat's TR:

I>>>>>>really hope you HAVE really>>>>>WON^^^^^^^^

$800.00>>>cash!!

feel G@@D bout it !!

take PRIDE in YOUR BLESSING'$$$$$

IF you have a telephone.........................................??????????????

PLEASE call the SALVATION ARMY............................BE HAPPY>>>>

don't BE SAD

MAKE a DONATIONATION>>>>>>>>>IN YOUR GREAT.....NAME!!!!!

psyko does it all the time and EVERY chance I get cause it HELP$$$$$$$$

meanwhile>>>>keep playin D lottery if... [ More ]

Reply #18

justxploring — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 20:02:32 GMT

We just coincidentally had another thread like this one a few days ago. Someone on disability wanted to know how winning some money would affect his disability benefit. Is someone writing a paper about the honesty of lottery players and using this board for research?

In a way, I completely understand why someone who is living on disability would play PB. Everyone wants hope. Disability is all relative. Some people live in wheelchairs and make great livings as accountants, lawyers compu... [ More ]

Reply #17

TeaRowz — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 19:34:01 GMT

Thanks everyone. I got my answer as to the legality of letting someone cash the ticket for me. And I got a morality lesson to boot

Reply #16

KY Floyd — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 19:25:49 GMT

It's completely legal to have somebody else cash the ticket for you. What's illegal is not following the rules on reporting income when you are collecting disability. Your plan just makes you one of the people who is defrauding the government, and the taxpayers who have been kind enough to help you out.Being poor and desparate won't make your ethics any better and won't make you any less of a thief and a liar.

Reply #15

Stack47 — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 19:25:10 GMT

I think it's a neat story because even though they don't want the government to find out they are spending public assistance on lottery tickets, they have no problem telling it to the people paying for it.

Reply #14

Stack47 — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 19:18:27 GMT

I matched three numbers, and the Powerball number, and the PowerPlay number for that day was 4. So, should that be $200 x 4?

Nope, according to the Powerball website http://www.powerball.com/powerball/pb_prizes.asp matching 3 plus 1 with a Multiplier of 4 pays $400.

Reply #13

Stack47 — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 19:12:48 GMT

While to do it this way may be dishonest, I don't feel terribly guilty when I know of the dishonesty of people who fraud the government out of millions by claiming disability when they are not disabled.

The tax people don't care if you or your relative pays the taxes. And if you or they decided not to include the lottery winnings on next year's 1040 and get caught, justifying it by saying but other people fraud the government out of millions won't get you off the hook.

Those of us who... [ More ]

Reply #12

RJOh — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 18:54:49 GMT

Do your relative love you enough to pay taxes on your winnings from his pockets.

That's kind of like these no name charities calling my home and telling me that they aren't asking me for a donation but they're just asking me to go around to my neighbors and collect donations to send to them. It's a scam but it not my scam since I don't keep any of the money.

Reply #11

TeaRowz — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 18:54:21 GMT

That's true, but there is a point of desperation at which to take that risk becomes easier.

Reply #10

TeaRowz — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 18:51:58 GMT

Your story would have a little more credibility had you said the ticket was gift or you found it. I'm not sure if the point you're trying to make is that people on public assistance buy lottery tickets, if they win they don't want anybody to find out, or they are so ignorant they don't know when they won (I'm not sure yet, but I believe I've won $800 on my ticket!).

I didn't explain things well. This is the first time I've played Powerball, and I'm not yet sure how to calculate the winning.... [ More ]

Reply #9

Raven62 — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 18:40:54 GMT

When folks circumvent the rules, they usually wind up losing in the end.

For example: If it was later discovered that the income was not reported, it's possible to lose the entire Disability Payment.

Reply #8

Stack47 — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 18:33:11 GMT

Your story would have a little more credibility had you said the ticket was gift or you found it. I'm not sure if the point you're trying to make is that people on public assistance buy lottery tickets, if they win they don't want anybody to find out, or they are so ignorant they don't know when they won (I'm not sure yet, but I believe I've won $800 on my ticket!).

Is it legal to ask someone else to cash in my ticket for me? Is that an unfair thing to ask of someone in the first place... [ More ]

Reply #7

bashley572 — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 18:22:45 GMT

Well I learned something new today. Didn't know cashing in winnings would count against your benefits. I am sure there are ALOT of people with shocked looks on thier face after they have cashed a winner only to find there benefits hit

Reply #6

TeaRowz — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 17:56:38 GMT

Yes, I can EARN a certain amount of money before it would affect my benefits, but this isn't earned income. The full amount of my winnings would be considered in future determinations of my benefits. And even this 'small' amount could really hurt me.

Reply #5

TeaRowz — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 17:53:58 GMT

I doubt that would have been your response if you had a loved one who is severely disabled, barely able to afford to eat, and who had won some money.

Reply #4

TeaRowz — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 17:52:23 GMT

Thanks for enlightening me about having someone else claim the ticket. I've been disabled, and on government assistant most of my adult life - I hadn't even thought that the person who claimed it would then need to pay taxes on it. But, I do have a relative who loves me enough to do that for me without asking for money for their trouble, or splitting the amount.

While to do it this way may be dishonest, I don't feel terribly guilty when I know of the dishonesty of people who fraud the gover... [ More ]

Reply #3

bashley572 — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 17:14:04 GMT

I agree, I can see if you won EIGHT THOUSAND how that would effect your income, but from what I understand you should be able to earn alot more then EIGHT HUNDRED before your benefits get hit.

Reply #2

Raven62 — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 17:01:38 GMT

If you have to lie about your winnings: Maybe you shouldn't play the Lottery

Reply #1

RJOh — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 17:00:31 GMT

I've read about several cases of people receiving public assistance or being behind with their child support allowing someone else to collect their lottery winnings for them and feeling cheated. You have to remember the person collecting your winnings has to report it as his income too so he has to pay taxes on it in his income bracket. If he's in the 25% tax bracket, he's going to owe $200 of extra taxes plus he going to want at least a $100 for his trouble and there goes $300 of that $800 or... [ More ]

Letting Someone Else Claim My Powerball Winnings

TeaRowz — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 16:25:41 GMT

Hello,

I am new to this forum, and a first-time Powerball player. I'm not sure yet, but I believe I've won $800 on my ticket!

Problem is, I am disabled and exist on Supplemental Security Income (SSI), live in low-income housing, get food stamps... you know, that 'living high-on-the-hog' lifestyle.

For me to claim my winnings would require reporting my winning to everyone in the government, and losing benefits .

Is it legal to ask someone else to cash in my ticket for me? Is that an... [ More ]