Florida mom furious as state seizes lottery winnings for debt

Florida mom furious as state seizes lottery winnings for debt

A young Florida mother, Brittany Wilson, is outraged after the state seized her $5,000 lottery winnings. They’re claiming she owes money due to unemployment overpayment. Wilson intended to use the money for bills and her children. Now, she joins hundreds of Floridians facing similar issues linked to the state’s Department of Commerce.

Brittany Wilson had been financially struggling and decided to try her luck with a lottery ticket. As a result, it led to a $5,000 win. However, her joy quickly turned to frustration when the Florida Lottery District Office withheld her winnings. They cited a possible state debt. Wilson was directed to the state’s Department of Economic Opportunity, now the Department of Commerce, to resolve the issue.

“I was thinking about all the bills that I have held up, just paying those off,” Wilson told ABC Action News. Also, she hoped to spend some of the winnings on her two children, who mean “everything” to her.

Wilson, like many others in Florida, doubted the legitimacy of the state’s claim that she owed money from previous unemployment benefits. However, the situation has highlighted a broader issue. There are hundreds of residents reporting similar problems with their lottery winnings being seized.

This growing controversy has led to increased scrutiny of the state’s handling of unemployment overpayments. Also, its impact on residents trying to claim their rightful lottery winnings.

Florida mom furious as state seizes lottery winnings for debt