While cleaning her room, NJ woman finds lottery ticket worth $472,000

CLIFTON — For Yokasta Boyer, tax season will be remembered fondly.

The Clifton woman, who has a full-time job and a second part-time job, was organizing documents in preparation for tax season when she found a winning Jersey Cash 5 lottery ticket from April 14, 2015, New Jersey Lottery officials said.

Taking a break from her chores, Boyer checked the ticket numbers on the Lottery website, officials said. In disbelief, she even made her brother confirm that the winning ticket, worth $472,271, belonged to her.

Boyer filed her claim just in time on April 1, 2016 — two weeks before the ticket would have expired.

Boyer plans to pay off her existing debts, officials said.

Boyer told officials that she works 60 hours a week and during the Christmas holidays, even more.

"So maybe now, thanks to her lottery win, this coming holiday season she will be able to work less and have more time to relax and enjoy time with friends and family," lottery officials said.

Boyer purchased her winning ticket at the Quick Mart, 155 Lakeview Ave. in Clifton.