Couple who won £10million on Lottery are still claiming £500 in benefit every month... SIX YEARS after hitting jackpot - and it's totally legal!

By SUZANNAH HILLS

Here's to us: Michael and Jean O'Shea celebrating winning £10.2million on Euro Millions, at Nottingham Race Course, in October 2005

A couple who won a £10.2 million lottery jackpot are still claiming £500-a-month disability benefits more than six years later, it has emerged.
Mick and Jean O'Shea won the huge EuroMillions sum in 2005 but Mr O'Shea still receives the disability allowance because it is not means-tested in England.
The former builder, 73, told The Sun newspaper: 'We've nothing to hide. I worked for 40 years and I'm entitled to it.
'I've been getting it since about 1996. I declared the win to the authorities at the time, but it doesn't matter as it's not means-tested.'

Home sweet home: Mr and Mrs O'Shea bought their council house in Sneinton, Nottingham, for £5,000 in 1977. Houses in the area now sell for an average of £190,000

Mr O'Shea said he has osteoarthritis in his legs as well as rheumatoid arthritis in his hands and has recently had a hip operation.
Mrs O'Shea, 72, added: 'It's for his eyesight and arthritis. We're entitled to it.'
Mr O'Shea also receives a new car every three years under the Government's Motability scheme for disabled drivers, the newspaper reported.

The couple live in Sneinton, Nottingham, in a council house they purchased for £5,000 in 1977. Houses in the area now sell for an average of £190,000.
A neighbour told the newspaper that Mr and Mrs O'Shea go on holiday several times a year - to locations such as Australia, Canada and Alaska.
The pair also had a house built in Co Kerry, Ireland, after their win, which is now worth £600,000.

Taxpayer's Alliance campaign director, Emma Boon, dismissed Mr O'Shea's argument that he has a right to claim disability allowance after years of paying tax himself.
She said: 'It's irrelevant if he has paid tax all his life and that is a ridiculous argument to make.
'The disability allowance and mobility scheme is there for people who genuinely need it and have no other way of getting help.
'It is not some sort of tax rebate for the rich - and it is not there for newly-made millionaires to take advantage of.
'He is taking away money and services from others who genuinely need it and can't afford to pay for it themselves.

source: dailymail