Processing times as well as prize thresholds vary with each state, but generally speaking, the larger the prize, the longer it will take to collect your winnings.
No cause for alarm, however. You'll get your money within a reasonable amount of time no matter what. Once you have come forward with the winning ticket, you can expect the typical scenarios:
Depending on where you purchased your Powerball ticket, you have between 90 days to one year after the drawing to claim your winnings. Beyond that, your ticket expires and you forfeit your prize. You can also look at the back of your ticket for its expiration date.
Or check out the table below of Powerball claim periods for all territories the game is available in:
Remember that you must claim your winnings in the jurisdiction where you purchased your lottery ticket.
For Mega Millions, claim periods for each state and jurisdiction are the same as Powerball's. The only difference is that Puerto Rico is not on the list, since the game is not available in that country.
Find out how long you have to claim your Mega Millions ticket based on your state in the table below:
For most lotteries, the grand prize or jackpot is paid out to winners in a single lump sum (cash option) or over 20+ graduated payments (annuity option).
The cash option for Powerball and Mega Millions is typically equivalent to ~61% of the advertised jackpot. This is the percentage of the prize pool that is allocated to funding the jackpot.
The annuity option is equivalent to 100% of the advertised jackpot, and is based on the funds in the prize pool, expected ticket sales, and current market interest rates. Annuity payments are usually paid out over 29 years, although different lotteries and jurisdictions may have varying rules.
In the event of multiple jackpot winners, the prize is divided equally between them.
Secondary prizes are usually fixed amounts, and are paid out in cash.
As for taxes, it depends on the lottery and its local laws. Generally speaking however, all lottery winnings you earn in a year can be taxed. If you want to get a more detailed look at all the math involved, or just want to perform your own calculations, please feel free to check out our lottery calculators page for specific numbers and formulas.
The first thing you should do is make sure you've signed the back of your ticket.
Next, bring your ticket to the relevant lottery authority to claim your winnings. For most US lotteries, winnings up to $600 can be claimed directly from any authorized retailer. Larger prizes including the jackpot can be claimed from claim centers, district offices, or the lottery headquarters, depending on the amount. This will also require the winner to complete a claim form and provide valid forms of identification.
In many states, secondary prizes can also be claimed by mail. Check with your local lottery operator to see what your options are.
If you purchased your ticket online, chances are your prize is already in your player account. If you won a significant sum, you have to contact the lottery operator to claim your winnings.
And please remember to redeem your ticket within the time period allowed. Check the table above for Powerball and Mega Millions claim periods.
Same steps as mentioned above, but take note of the following when claiming Powerball and Mega Millions winnings:
Finally, take a look at our guide on What to Do After Winning the Lottery where we'll give you our recommendations on how to handle big lottery wins.
Also check out the following tools for calculating your winnings to help you plan ahead:
And if you haven't purchased your lottery ticket yet, check out our article on the best lottery software to help you pick the winning numbers.
