THE ESSENTIALS
How to claim a lottery prize, and how long it takes to get paid
How to claim by prize size, how the money reaches you and how long each route takes.
The short answer
Small shop prizes are paid on the spot. Online prizes up to £500 drop into your National Lottery account by themselves. Bigger prizes need a claim, and anything over £50,000 is claimed in person after you ring the operator. You have 180 days from the draw to claim.
Confirm the result first
Match the game and draw date (our guide to checking your ticket shows how), then confirm the win with the official operator. A result on an independent website like ours is not proof of a valid prize.
If you bought your ticket in a shop
| Prize | How to claim | How you’re paid |
|---|---|---|
| £100 or less | Any National Lottery shop. Shops must pay up to £100, or up to £50 at till-point terminals | Cash, or to a debit card at some shops, there and then |
| £100.01 to £500 | Some shops will pay. If one can’t, try another | Cash or debit card, there and then |
| £500.01 to £50,000 | Start your claim online with your ticket to hand. If you can’t, call 0333 234 50 50 | Once your claim is checked |
| Over £50,000 | Call 0333 234 50 50 first. The operator arranges a date and time to claim in person | Once your claim is checked |
Shop claims must be made in the shop’s normal opening hours, and no later than 11:55pm on the last day of the claim period. If the terminal won’t scan your ticket, the shop can type in the serial number to check it.
Prizes over £500 can no longer be claimed at Post Offices.
If you played online
| Prize | How to claim | How you’re paid |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £500 | Nothing to do | Straight into your National Lottery account |
| £500.01 to £30,000 | Go to My Games in your account and confirm the card linked to it | To your account, once claimed |
| £30,000.01 to £50,000 | Call 0333 234 44 33 | By cheque |
| Over £50,000 | Call 0333 234 44 33 to register the win, then claim in person | Once your claim is checked |
Playing in a syndicate? Every prize is paid to the syndicate manager, who then shares it out. Our lottery syndicates guide explains how that works.
If you pay by Direct Debit, every prize up to £50,000 goes straight into your account, which the National Lottery says can take 3 to 5 working days.
How long it takes to get paid
- Shop prizes up to £500: straight away, if the shop can pay.
- Online prizes up to £500: added to your account automatically.
- Direct Debit players: prizes up to £50,000 can take 3 to 5 working days.
- Bigger prizes: the National Lottery doesn’t publish a fixed time. Your claim and ticket are checked first, and big winners usually get a visit from a winners’ adviser. Ask when you call.
- Powerball jackpots are different. UK winners are paid over 30 years, not in one go.
You never have to pay a fee to get a prize. A message saying you’ve won a lottery you didn’t enter is a scam. Only use the phone numbers and website you find yourself.
Check the deadline
Draw game prizes must be claimed within 180 days after the draw. Unclaimed prizes are forfeited. If you’ve lost the ticket, you have just 30 days to report it. Some big prizes are waiting right now: see our list of unclaimed lottery prizes. Then read what happens when you win.
Questions people ask
How long does the lottery take to pay out?
Shop prizes up to £500 are paid on the spot and online prizes up to £500 go straight into your account. Direct Debit players get prizes up to £50,000 in 3 to 5 working days. Bigger prizes are paid after the claim is checked.
How do I claim a prize over £50,000?
Ring the National Lottery first: 0333 234 50 50 for a shop ticket or 0333 234 44 33 if you played online. They register the win and arrange a date and time for you to claim in person.
Can I claim a lottery prize at the Post Office?
Not for prizes over £500. For those, start your claim online or call the operator.
Is a Powerball jackpot paid as a lump sum?
No. For UK winners the Powerball jackpot is paid over 30 years.
Sources
We check every guide against the operators’ own pages. Rules and prizes can change, so the official operator always has the final word.