Raging woman denied lottery winnings due to unemployment benefits mistake

10 February 2024 , 07:00

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Elizabeth Thornton from Kissimmee, Florida was denied her lottery winnings after she was overpaid in unemployment benefits during the pandemic (Image: FOX 35)

A grandmother who won the lottery was left fuming after she was denied her winnings due to a benefit mix-up.

Elizabeth Thornton from Kissimmee, Florida won nearly $3,000 (£2,374) on a Pick Four Ticket and had planned to use the money to pay off some debt, as well as treat her daughters and grandchildren. But Elizabeth was left devastated when she went to pick up the winnings as she was told the state would not pay her because she was overpaid in unemployment benefits during the pandemic.

Elizabeth lost her job at Disney in 2020 and with the world at a standstill due to the Covid-19 pandemic, she was forced to get benefits. According to the grandmother, she was told she was overpaid by $8,000 when she received her unemployment benefits and, because of this, would not be paid her lottery winnings.

"When I won I said I could get caught up on my car note, my insurance, pay some bills, help my family out a little bit, my daughters, my grandkids, give them a little something," Elizabeth told Fox 35. According to the outlet Elizabeth was told the overpayment was waived by the state, and she didn't have to pay it back.

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Elizabeth had planned to use the money to pay off debt and treat her family (FOX 35)

Art Schofield, an employment attorney, described the situation as "unique" and explained that despite overpayments being waived by the state, it will still attempt to retrieve the money and this is common with lottery winnings. "You're pulling from the same entity so to speak," he said.

Elizabeth is still fighting to be given the money. "You need to send me the money," she said. "You took the money out that don't belong to you. You told me I didn't owe anything, you waived it."

The state agency in charge of unemployment benefits told FOX 35 that they do withhold lottery payments when someone was overpaid. The Florida Lottery said in a statement: "The Department of Commerce, formerly the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), and the Florida Lottery have established a longstanding agreement, collaborating closely, and maintaining continuous communication to address issues related to Reemployment Assistance overpayments and Florida Lottery winnings.

"In accordance with Section 24.115(4) of the Florida Statutes, Ms. Thornton's Lottery winnings were withheld on June 26, 2023, due to a state-owed debt flagged by the Department of Commerce from an overpayment of unemployment compensation and subsequently dispersed to the Department of Commerce. Therefore, the Department of Commerce would be the responsible agency for reimbursing Ms. Thornton, if applicable."

Sam Truelove