It’s a story that seems so implausible that it’s unlikely, but an American couple has had a $1,600,000 Powerball prize frozen due to back taxes worth $109! The couple, from Rocklin California aren’t exactly well off and live from paycheck to paycheck. Winner Debra Miller supports her disabled husband and teenage son and life isn’t always easy.
On the week of winning, Miller had just $6 to her name but spent $2 on a Powerball ticket, that ticket matched five numbers in the draw, winning her $1.6 million! Her husband could hardly believe it, thinking she was paying him back for a previous April Fools joke, but it was in fact true! However, here’s where the problems started and eleven weeks after the win, the couple still haven’t received the prize.
Firstly the winning Powerball ticket was turned into Natomas lottery office, but instead of receiving a cheque, the couple were handed a notice from the Franchise Tax Board notifying them that they were intercepting funds for $109 owed in back taxes. Miller and her husband are happy to pay the $109, but it’s completely held up the payment, and despite Powerball guidelines stating that wins are paid within 8 weeks, the couple still hasn’t received a penny.
Before wins are paid in the US lots of checks have to be made and one of these is a check with more than 800 different government agencies to see if the winner owes money for anything. Things like back taxes, child support and unpaid student loans can flag up and hold the payment up.
A California Lottery spokesperson has now confirmed that Miller and her family will receive the cheque, but they maintain that the hold ups are necessary as Powerball procedure is so very strict.