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THREE Powerball prizes are unclaimed in the same state and just weeks away from expiring.
Most lottery winners collect their prizes immediately after discovering they hit the jackpot.
Three Powerball prizes in Kansas remain unclaimed (stock image)[/caption]
This isn’t always the case, though. Nearly a year after the drawing, three people in Kansas have yet to claim their cash.
Two wins came from the Northeast Kansas regions, and the other happened in South Central.
Each prize was worth $50,000.
The first Powerball win happened on October 7, and the winner bought their ticket in the Northeast.
The winning numbers were 47, 54, 57, 60, and 65, and the Powerball was 19.
Another winner came from the same region just a few days later, on October 11.
A South Central player also won that day, with the winning numbers 22, 24, 40, 52, and 64, and a Powerball of 10.
Kansas Lottery players have one calendar year to claim their prize winnings. Anything that remains unclaimed after the deadline returns to the lottery prize fund.
MORE POWERBALL PRIZES
Lottery officials urged players to check their tickets as another Powerball prize remains unclaimed.
The unknown winner scored $1 million from the game.
They bought their ticket at a Fareway Meat and Grocery in Webster City, Iowa – about 70 miles north of Des Moines.
The winning numbers were 29, 42, 44, 51, 54 and a Powerball of 12. The deadline to pick up the prize is February 3.
RETIREMENT FUND
A Powerball player in Kentucky took home $10 million thanks to the game’s “double play” feature.
The winner, who chose to remain anonymous, took advantage of the option, allowing players to participate in a second Powerball drawing.
Rather than a growing jackpot, the top prize for the drawing is always $10 million.
Lottery winnings: lump sum or annuity?
Players who win big on lottery tickets typically have a choice to make: lump sum or annuity?
The two payout methods can impact how much money you get from your prize.
Annuities pay out slowly in increments, often over 30 years.
Lump sums pay all at once but in a smaller amount, as taxes are withheld in one go. That means 24% of your prize goes to Uncle Sam right away. Many states tax winnings as well.
Annuities can provide winners time to set up the financial infrastructure required to take in a life-changing amount of money, but lump sums have the benefit of being taxed only once.
Inflation is also worth considering when making a choice, as payouts do not adjust with the value of a dollar. That means that you’ll likely be getting less valuable money towards the end of an annuity.
Each state and game pays out prizes differently, so it’s best to check with your state’s lottery to confirm payment policies. A financial advisor can also help you weigh the pros and cons of each option.
Experts have varying opinions on whether to take the lump sum or take the annuity.
The player decided to add the Double Play feature on a whim.
“It just popped up on the screen to add it, and I thought, ‘I think I’ll try,’” they told Kentucky Lottery.
“I’m sure glad I did.”
They checked their numbers over and over to make sure they had really won.
“I was overwhelmed and excited. Now I can retire,” they said.
Another lottery winner wasn’t that lucky after they lost hundreds of thousands in prize money due to debt.
A sweet grandmother also shared her $4 million lottery win with her grandkids.
