Disabled Granddad Says His £80,000 Lottery Win ‘Ruined’ His Life as He Lost His Benefits

A disabled granddad who won £80,000 on the lottery claims the windfall wrecked his life because he lost his benefits. Daniel Millar, aged 63, spent the money within weeks on gifts for his family, luxury holidays, home improvements and clothes. However, he did not tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about his stroke of luck and when they found out they stopped several of his benefits. Due to the lottery win he no longer qualifies for income support, housing benefit, a council tax reduction or any other means-tested handouts.

‘I didn’t know I had to tell the Department for Work and Pensions, so I spent it all by giving it to my two sons and my daughter, paid two family holidays, did up my house and bought clothes for me and my wife. The granddad got the money in September and it was all gone by December, when he got a call from the DWP saying he had been reported for having £80,000 in the bank. He added: ‘That was true in September but not when I went for the interview. I was £7 overdrawn. ‘Now they have stopped my benefit. The only income I have is my personal independence payment of £350 per month and a pension of £1.08 per week.’

Daniel, who has long term health problems, claims he and his wife Bridget, who is his carer and gets £62 a week, are destitute.

‘We just get a bit of luck and all of a sudden, we are punished for it.’ Daniel joins a string of lottery winners, including disabled George Grant whose benefits were cancelled after he spent £20,000 on a trip to Nashville, who claim their unexpected injection of cash has ruined their lives.

A DWP spokeswoman said about lottery winners: ‘It’s very important that people tell us of any changes to their circumstances, so they can receive the right support.

Image: Daniel Miller Lottery Winner (pictures courtesy MirrorPix)