A GRANDAD who won a £80k lottery jackpot saw his benefit payments stop thanks to a little known "rule".
Daniel Millar was over the moon after bagging the life-changing sum in September 2017 and spent the whopping prize in just two months.
The disabled grandad splurged the cash over several weeks on a cruise, two trips to Benidorm, renovations to his house, and handed out cash to his family, friends, and neighbours.
But he said the win turned into a nightmare after his benefits were stopped by the government.
The former security guard no longer qualified for income support, housing benefit, a council tax reduction or any other means-tested handouts.
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Daniel told the Daily Record newspaper at the time of the heartache: “In December, I got a letter from the DWP saying I had to go to an appointment.
"They then told me I had been reported by the tax office for having £80,000 in my bank."
He said: “I have to pay full rent and council tax so we have little left to live on.
"My wife, who is my carer, gets £62 a week."
Daniel, who won the jackpot seven years ago, went on: "She has to put that aside to pay other bills like gas, electric and phone.”
His wife Bridget said the couple were being punished for having a bit of luck.
She said: “The DWP have said we aren’t entitled to any money. They say that we have deprived ourselves of capital and don’t qualify for the benefits.
“We just don’t know what we will do.”
The DWP declined to comment but had previously said: “It’s very important that people tell us of any changes to their circumstances so they can receive the right support.”
Daniel, from Motherwell, Scotland, failed to tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about scooping the windfall, according to reports.
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As such, the DWP confirmed he no longer qualifies for income support, housing benefit and council tax reduction.
It comes after winners who have also won far larger prizes in the lottery have regretted their win.
Mark Gardiner, from Hastings, won £22,590,829 with his mate in 1995 and says it ruined his life as pals turned on him and investments went sour.
When he and pal Paul Maddison won the huge fortune, Mark thought his problems would disappear overnight but despite his wealth he regrets winning in many ways.
Mark said in 2005: "There are days when I curse my win and wish I'd never got involved.
“But I guess if I woke up one day and saw my rusty old van and bank loan and realised I'd dreamt all this up that would be pretty frightening, too."
Meanwhile, a sad dad thought he'd snagged a £50,000 lotto jackpot - only to find out the following day he won just £2.
Nathan Moody, 25, was planning on buying a car and taking his three children on holiday before the devastating news halted his plans.
And one couple thought they had banked an incredible £182million - only to be told a payment issue meant they could not claim the prize.
