You Won a Scratch-Off. Here's Exactly How to Claim It

You scratched the ticket, the numbers line up, and now you are holding a winner. First thing: take a breath. Claiming a scratch-off is simple, but the exact steps change depending on how much you won. Here is the whole thing, start to finish.

Sign the back of the ticket first

Before you do anything else, sign your name on the back of the ticket. A scratch-off is what they call a bearer instrument, which is a fancy way of saying whoever holds it can usually cash it. If you lose an unsigned ticket, or it slips out of your pocket at the gas station, anyone who finds it can walk in and claim it. Your signature is the closest thing to proof that the prize is yours, so do it right away.

Small wins: cash them at the store

For most everyday prizes, the ones up to a few hundred dollars, you just take the ticket back to any lottery retailer. Each state sets its own ceiling for what a store can pay, often somewhere between $500 and $600. The clerk scans the ticket and pays you right out of the drawer. If one store happens to be short on cash late in the day, another retailer can pay you, or they will point you to the next step up.

Mid-size wins: the claim center

Above that store limit, you take the ticket to a regional lottery claim center, or in some states you mail it in. You fill out a short claim form, show a government photo ID, and give your Social Security number so the state can report the win for taxes. Bring the actual ticket. A photocopy will not do. And remember that a chunk comes out for taxes on bigger prizes, which is worth reading up on before you count your money (how lottery winnings are taxed, and whether you owe tax on a $1,000 win).

Big wins: slow down and call the lottery

If you hit a top prize, tens of thousands of dollars or millions in a jackpot, do not run to the store. Sign the ticket, take a clear photo of the front and the back, and put it somewhere safe like a home safe or a bank deposit box. Then call your state lottery's claims line and ask exactly what they need. Large prizes are paid from the state office, not the corner store, and it is smart to talk to a tax preparer or a lawyer before you cash it. The ticket does not expire tomorrow, so a few careful days to plan things properly beat a rushed mistake.

What to bring

• The signed ticket, kept flat and dry
• A government photo ID (Some states may require more than one form of ID, like a Driver's License and a Passport)
• Your Social Security number for anything the state has to report to the IRS (Some states require proof of Social Security number, like the card itself or tax return)
• A little patience for a big prize, since the check can take a few weeks

A winning ticket is worth exactly what is printed on it, as long as you take care of it. Sign it, keep it somewhere safe, and match the claim step to the size of the prize. That is really all there is to it.