Scottish Man Blows £80k Lottery Win, Asks For Benefits to be Reinstated

A Grandfather from Scotland who won £80,000 on the National Lottery says he wants to go back on benefits because he is struggling to ‘make ends meet’.  

Daniel Millar from Motherwell won £80,000 in September 2017 and spent it all in a matter of weeks. Now, having had his benefits stripped, he's looking to get back on the government-supplemented payroll. 

Much like winnings from casino sites, windfalls from the National Lottery are tax free meaning Millar received - and proceeded to spend - the entire £80,000 in full. 

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Them’s the Rules 

UK government rules compel you to report any additional income, even if not applicable to tax, including winning the National Lottery. 

This is something Millar omitted to do. He did not notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that he had hit the jackpot. 

The Scot went on a spending spree and handed out cash to his family, funding holidays and renovating his home. The £80,000 did not last long and Mr Millar found himself back in the ‘doledrums’ and holding his hand out for benefits.  

DWP Discover Win and Stop Benefits 

The DWP made the discovery of Millar’s win through a tax office report and stopped providing Millar with income support, housing benefits, and council tax reductions.  

From £80,000 to being overdrawn by £7 meant that Millar had to plead with the DWP to reinstate his benefits. 

Millar’s plea was that he did not intend to spend the money so quickly and that he thought he was doing the right thing by helping his family.  

Couple Deprived Themselves of Capital 

Millar said that he only receives £598 per month in combined benefits with his wife, who is also his carer. The DWP ruled that the couple "deprived themselves of capital" and no longer qualified for benefits.