A huge number of individuals throughout the United Kingdom play the UK National lotto each week on the off chance that they can secure that life changing jackpot. You would therefore think that these individuals would be in a hurry to check the results immediately after the draw has been completed to see if their dreams have come true. You may therefore be quite stunned when I tell you that a staggering sum of lottery cash never gets claimed.

The UK National lotto is constantly holding enormous quantities of lottery cash that they are just waiting to be claimed. In just the 5 month period from September 2008 to February 2009 just under 4 million still sits unclaimed by players of just the UK lotto game. These are not just a group of small prizes either; there are many in excess of 10,000, a few of more than 100,000 as well as one prize of 1.5 million.

If you have made the effort to play the UK National lotto, make sure you check your ticket numbers as soon as the draw has been completed. If you are fortunate enough to secure a cash prize, claim it as soon as possible because the UK lotto rules stipulate that any prize that has not been claimed within six months will no longer be payable.

The main reason given by lottery players as to why they do not claim their lotto wins is because they have lost their tickets. Im sure that a good number of us have lost a lottery ticket at some point and have desperately tried to get hold of it in time for the draw but with no luck.

Depending on the size of your UK National lottery win, there are different ways in which you claim your prize. If your prize is under 200, you can collect your cash from any UK National lottery retailer in the United Kingdom. When your prize money fall into the category between 200 and 500 some lotto retailers may still pay out a cash sum of this size but for those who choose not to do this you will need to claim your prize at the post office instead.

When you are claiming UK National lottery prizes falling in the category between 500 and 50,000 again the post office is where you must go to pick up your prize. You will be required to enter your details into a claim form, present your lucky lotto ticket as evidence as well as show your proof of identification before being presented with a cheque for your winnings. Cash prizes of this nature can also be claimed by post from the UK lotto head quarters. Again you will have to complete a claim form and post your winning ticket as evidence of your win. If you elect to apply for your prize in this manner, be sure to make a copy of your lottery ticket for your security and then send the original via recorded delivery.

When you are fortunate enough to be calling in a UK lottery prize of more than 50,000, you have to visit one of the National lotterys regional centres and pick up your prize in person.

If you want to steer clear of ever joining the vast number of individuals missing out on claiming their UK National lotto winnings, it would be sensible to set up a lottery ticket subscription with the UK National lottery directly. If you choose this option, your lottery ticket payment will always be taken on time and you will be advised of any prizes coming your way a short time after the draw has been made. Playing in this manner will make certain that you always claim lottery prize money that is owed to you.