Family Can I Claim My Parent as a Dependent? Read the Article Open Share Drawer Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Written by TurboTaxBlogTeam Published Apr 18, 2024 8 min read Reviewed by Jotika Teli, CPA Claiming dependents can help you reduce your tax liability, but there are rules regarding who you can claim. You may be wondering, “Can I claim my parents as dependents?” While the answer may be yes, it ultimately depends on your circumstances. Sorting it out on your own can be a bit confusing, so we’ve outlined what you need to know in this guide. Learn more about claiming a parent as a dependent and what you need to know before you file your taxes. Table of Contents Why might you claim a parent as a dependent?Are there rules for claiming your parents as dependents?Requirements for claiming your parent as a dependentPros and cons of claiming your parents as dependents How Claiming a Parent Affects Your Filing StatusHow to claim your parents as dependents Why might you claim a parent as a dependent? There are a handful of reasons you may want to claim a parent as a dependent. But before you do that, you and your parent(s) must meet certain criteria to be eligible to claim them as a dependent. Claiming an elderly parent as a dependent is common for children who act as caregivers. Even if your parents don’t need full-time care, claiming them as a dependent allows you to support your parents while minimizing your financial burden. If you pay for care for your elderly parents, you may also be eligible for caretaking tax breaks, so make sure to look into those opportunities as well. Tax credits and exemptions can help you reduce your tax liability. Are there rules for claiming your parents as dependents? There are special tax rules for parents. If your qualifying person is your father or mother, you may be eligible to file as head of household, even if your parent doesn’t live with you. However, your mother or father must meet the qualifications of being a dependent. For example, you must pay more than half the cost of keeping up a home that was your parents’ main home for the entire year. If you pay more than half the cost of your parents’ senior living or assisted care facility, that counts as paying more than half the cost of keeping up your parents’ main home. As with anything tax-related, you’ll have to meet a few requirements. Once the requirements are satisfied, you’ll be able to receive an additional tax break for your efforts, designed to help offset the costs associated with caring for a parent. However, don’t worry about knowing the tax rules; TurboTax will ask simple questions about your dependents and give you the tax deductions and credits you’re eligible for based on your answers. Requirements for claiming your parent as a dependent The IRS has strict rules about who you can claim as a dependent. We’ll go into more detail below, but here’s a quick overview of the eligibility requirements for your parents to be claimed as dependents: Your parent’s gross income must be less than $4,700 for the calendar year You must pay for at least half of your parent’s support throughout the year Your parent can’t be claimed as a child by another taxpayer Your parent must be a US citizen, US national, US resident alien, or a resident of Canada or Mexico You can’t be a dependent of another taxpayer Married parents can’t file a joint return unless they’re only filing to receive an income tax or estimated tax refund If your parent is a foster parent, they need to live with you for the entire calendar year Support Means Support To meet the support requirements necessary to claim your parent as a dependent on your tax return, you must cover more than half of your parent’s support costs, meaning 51% or more of their support must be covered by you. These costs include: Food Housing/lodging expenses Clothing Entertainment Medical services and/or equipment costs You are also allowed to include your dependent parent’s medical expenses on your own tax return if you itemize when calculating your medical deductions. If support for your parent was given by a group of individuals or family members, you may want to sign a Multiple Support Declaration (Form 2120) if you also supported your parent and you want to claim them on your tax return as a dependent. A Multiple Support Declaration (Form 2120) is a signed statement from each eligible person, waiving his or her right to claim the parent as a dependent. Residency and Relationship The technical term the IRS uses to meet the relationship requirement for these tax and life situations is “Qualifying Relative.” This means that the person you’re caring for can be your parent, in-law, or even a grandparent. However, they must be related to you biologically, by adoption, or through marriage (which would technically be a biological relationship with your spouse). Your parent, in-law, grandparent, or other relative does not have to live with you all year like a non-relative. And guess what? The IRS has residency requirements as well. To meet the residency requirement, the person you are caring for must meet one of the following requirements: Be a legal US Citizen Be a U.S. National Be a U.S. Resident Alien Be a Resident of Canada or Mexico Social Security and Gross Income The parent you want to claim as a dependent on your tax return must have a Social Security number (SSN) or an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN). Either of these numbers will satisfy the identification requirement for the IRS. Also, the parent you are claiming cannot file a joint tax return. To be allowed to claim your parent as a dependent, your parent’s taxable income must be less than $4,700 for tax year 2023 (and $5,050 for 2024). This means that if your parent’s income falls into that threshold you aren’t eligible to claim them as a dependent. Non-taxable income such as Social Security does not factor into the calculation of total income for purposes of claiming a parent as a dependent. More Perks and Requirements One of the last requirements to claim your parent as a dependent on your tax return is that you can’t be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return or eligible as a dependent (even without being claimed) if you plan to claim your parent as a dependent. Pros and cons of claiming your parents as dependents Before filing your taxes, you should weigh the pros and cons of claiming parents as dependents. Claiming parents as dependents can be a smart choice, but it’s all about your situation. Pros of claiming your parents as dependents Claiming a parent as a dependent means you may qualify for certain deductions and credits, which can reduce your taxable income. With the money you save on taxes, you can provide the support your parents need to live happy, healthy lives. Your parents don’t have to live with you for more than half the year to qualify as a dependent. As long as you pay more than half of the household expenses for your parents, you can claim them as dependents even if they live elsewhere. You could be eligible for the new “Other Dependent Credit,” worth $500 on your return. More good news! You may also be able to claim the “Dependent Care Credit” if your parent needs assistance while you are at work or away. Cons of claiming your parents as dependents When you claim your parents as dependents, they may not be eligible for certain tax benefits. Your parents may not qualify for assistance programs, including SNAP and utility offsets. While tax credits and deductions can help you reduce your taxable income, you still have to pay a significant amount in care costs. The tax benefits you receive from claiming your parents as dependents will only partially offset medical expenses and other care costs. How Claiming a Parent Affects Your Filing Status Before you claim a parent as a dependent on your taxes, you should know how it affects your taxes. Under certain circumstances, you may be able to claim your parent as a dependent and file as head of household (HOH). To file as head of household, you must meet the following criteria: You paid more than half of the home expenses for the calendar year. You weren’t married on the last day of the year. A qualifying person must live with you for at least half the year. Parents don’t have to live with you for half the year, but you must be able to claim them as dependents. How to claim your parents as dependents If you’re wondering how to claim a parent as a dependent, the answer is simple. Once you’re sure you and your parent(s) meet all eligibility requirements, you can add them under the “Dependents” section on Form 1040. You’ll need to provide a first and last name, Social Security number, and relationship to you. You’ll also need to specify whether each dependent qualifies for the Child Tax Credit or the Credit for Other Dependents. You can review our guide to dependents to learn more about eligibility requirements for dependents. Don’t worry about knowing these tax rules. No matter what moves you made last year, TurboTax will make them count on your taxes. Whether you want to do your taxes yourself or have a TurboTax expert file for you, we’ll make sure you get every dollar you deserve and your biggest possible refund – guaranteed. Get started Previous Post 7 Wedding Expenses That Are Tax Deductible Next Post Capital Gains Tax Explained (What It Is & How to… Written by TurboTaxBlogTeam More from TurboTaxBlogTeam 219 responses to “Can I Claim My Parent as a Dependent?” « Older Comments Newer Comments » my 71 year old father lives with me and my husband and only has ssi .My husband and i support him and are his caregiver. Do we need to claim his ssi on taxes as income ? Reply Hi Candice, No you would not claim his social security on your taxes. If he had any other taxable income he would file his taxes separately and include his social security may need to be included depending on his other income, but if he doesn’t have any other income he doesn’t need to file. Thank you, Lisa Greene-Lewis Reply If my mom is on ssi but welfare doesnt know I live with her can she lose her ssi if I claim her on my taxes for the last three years My mother has been out of work for almost 3 years do to a work injury that disabled her she just started receiving SS disability in December 2014 I support end her for the last 3 years she did get a $20,000 settlement last year bout most of it was to pay off her debt that was built up can I claim her on my taxes if so do I need and paper trail? Reply I pay a visit each day a few websites and sites to read articles or reviews, however this weeb site provides feature based articles. Reply I am 56 and am on disability and own the home me and my mother live in and i provide for most the her support. she draws a pension of $500 a month plus her SS. I do not file taxes now would i be able to file and calm her. Reply My home has been paid off and I’ve been on disability for years my income is not enough to file income tax from what they say. can my son or daughter use my taxes or other expenses as a deduction and if possible how far back are they allowed to go? Reply Tax Experts: My wife’s parents (she herself is a resident alien) were here earlier this year and met the 183 day prerequisite . They have since gone back to China. Mw wife and I file a joint return. Am I amble to claim them as dependents? They didn’t earn any monies. Thanks, Barry Reply My mom is a Filipino Citizen and has no income at all. She is currently in Philippines but once lived in the US from 1995- 2006 and worked at Jordan from 2011-2014. Is she eligible? and she is 48 years of age Reply I moved into my mom’s to support her after she was diagnosed with ALZ and dementia. She only collects social security. I never changed my address to her’s can I claim her as a dependent? Also I pay for her to go to an Adult Day Care while I’m at work is that an deductible expense? Reply Hi, I want to know if and what I need to be able to claim my mother as a dependant. She is a Mexican citizen but I have had her move in with me since August 2014. She is 55 years old and has no income. I am a US resident and I am working on getting my citizenship and saving enough money to be able to request her residency. Please advise. Thanks. Reply Can i claim my parents as dependents if im the only source of income in the house hod and pay all the bills . Fpl meds and ect. They both do not have income im their only sourse of income Reply My mother is 93, legally blind and lives with me. I provide her with food, shelter and transportation and other living expenses. She receives SS only. May I claim her as a dependent? Reply My mom has lived with me for the past 3 years. She does not work but collects retirement monthly. I’m not sure if that is non-taxable or not?? I’ve never thought about claiming her as a dependent on my taxes until today. She doesn’t collect SS. The house is mine, I pay the mortgage, all of the bills and most groceries. Can I claim her? Or would her retirement need to be under the $3,900? Reply I claim my parents as dependents on my joint return with my wife. They are US residents for 9 years now, ages 82 and 76. They have no income. They do not qualify for medicare or medicaid and don’t have health insurance. I cannot possibly afford to insure them. Will I have to pay a penalty for them or can I gat an exemption. Reply Hi TurboTaxLisa! Someone touched on the joint account issue, but I didn’t see a reply. What cap, if any, is there on what assets the dependent parent is holding? What if it’s a joint savings account with me? The worksheet asks for a beginning of the year and end of the year total for the dependents holdings. Do we list one-half of the savings since it’s half mine? Thanks! Reply My daughter’s grandmother lives with me, with her daughter (my girlfriend), and her granddaughter. I pay for all my girlfriend’s mothers’ support costs, and she is a U.S. citizen who is in this country 10 months per year, making way under $3,900 per year.Can I claim her as a deduction? Meaning, is my daughter’s biological link to her sufficient to fulfill the biological criterion, even though her daughter and I are not married? Reply I am purchasing a second home in my name for my parents. They are not contributing anything financially for the home. I will also need to make some modifications such as wider doors for wheelchair access and ramp outside to accommodate their needs. Is it better to allow them to live rent free (as planned) or charge them a nominal fee? Plus, am I able to claim my step-father as a dependent (never adopted me) if I cover 51% of his living expenses? Thanks! Reply my friends mom said that social security is taking 110 dollars a month out of here check indefinatly because he claimed her on his taxes as a dependant…. can that be possible ? doesnt make any sence to me i ve been claiming my dad for 12 years never any thing like this Reply My mom is on SSI *$724.00/month+she gets $85.00 in food stamps. I provide a lot of financial support for her. Since she is on SSI can I claim her as dependent? What are the qualifications for that? Reply Hi Irina, As long as she is a US citizen or national, you provided over half of her support, and she did not make over $3,900 taxable income in 2013, $3,950 in 2014, you should be able to claim her. If she has no other income that would be combined with the social security income increasing the total combined income to $25,000, her social security income should not be taxable. Thank you, Lisa Greene-Lewis Reply Hi Lisa, I’ve been supporting my parents 100% since October or November 2013. They will be getting their social security numbers and green cards August of this year (2014). Can I claim them for 2014? Thanks in advance. i have a question If I start recieving payments for ssi in november can my sister file me and my children on her taxes for the year Hello, If someone could help me with figuring something out for future reference, it would be greatly appreciated. My father SSI, and lives on a fixed income, however, they do not take taxes out of his SS income. But he cares for two of his young grand children in his retirement. So, my question is, that since his income isn’t at the limit in which he has to file taxes, and doesn’t have taxes taken from his monthly payments, can he still file, and get the exemptions for caring for his two grandchildren for 100% of their needs? I’m unsure about it, because they do not take taxes from his monthly SS payments, but he still has dependents supported by that income. Any help in figuring this out would be appreciated. Thanks in advance! 🙂 Reply Why file? There is no benefit to be had, since no taxes were taken out there will be no tax refund. If there were someone else involved, say a working spouse with earned income, then there would likely be a benefit to filing a tax return. Reply I care for my parents in India and provide them support for living expenses. Also, we take care of their medical expenses. Can I claim their expenses under mine? They are non-us-citizens and stayed here for 3 months last year. They visit for 6 months every year. Reply In 2007 I had to move my mom and her mobile home on my property because she has vascular dementia and I needed to watch over her. Now she is in her latter stages and we have a full time caregiver living with her. She pays for her caregiver, utilities, food, clothes and medical expenses out of her SSI. I pay for the increase in my land taxes per year, her rent, I take her shopping, to doctors, etc. at my expense and I take care of all her business like paying her bills with her money. I also will take care of her for free from time to time to give the caregiver a break. Besides SSI she receives a small interest income on her checking account. Can I claim her as a dependent on mine and my husband’s income tax return? Reply I care for and live with both my parents, however one of my siblings may already be claiming them as dependents. How can I confirm this without asking them directly? Reply Hi cczoe, if a parent has gross income less than $3,900 (don’t count their social security- unless they filed their own tax return and a portion of the social security was taxable then only count the part not taxed) and you provided more than half of their support (lodging, food, transportation, medical etc.) you can claim them as a dependent on your tax return. If you file your return electronically and the parent’s social security number is on a return already filed, your return will be rejected from electronic filing. Then you know if someone has taken them on their return. Note: If no one has provided more than 50% of a parent’s total support but two or more persons collectively did, then any contributor who provided more than 10% of support, can claim the parent (gross income rule still applies) – those sharing support must agree which of them will claim the exemption and Form 2120 must be signed by all contributors. Hope this answers your question. Lee Lee Note: Reply I cared for my Mother the past 5 years. The last 2 years she received a benefit from VA for her care which is non-taxable. (aid and attendance). She paid me out of her SSI for taking care of her (she could not get VA if she did not pay a caregiver) and she could not care for herself. I was also her guardian. It is all documented. My question is that since she paid me out of her SSI and I paid over half of what I was paid out to the house bills and insurance, am I able to claim her as a dependent? She did not have any earned income. Reply Yes, she’s your dependent. The VA benefit and SSI are irrelevant. Reply My parents live in another country with my brother. I sent some money (51% or more of their support costs) during 2013 and their income is less than $3700. They have been in US just for 25 days during last 4 years. Can I claim them as dependents? Reply No. They did not meet the residency requirement to qualify as dependents. In addition, your parents should be US citizen or green card holder living in the US. Reply You can claim a dependent who is a resident of Mexico or Canada. They would then meet the citizenship test for dependency. And then you could apply for an ITIN for your dependents. You wouldn’t qualify for the head of household status, but you can claim the exemption. Then they have to live in the U.S. for more than 6 months in order to claim them for head of household as long as you can provide proof that you support them. You cannot claim as a dependent a child who lives in a foreign country other than Can ada or Mexico, unless the child is a U.S. citizen, U.S. resident alien, or U.S. national. Reply I live withmy son who provides over 51% of my support. I am a widow and my only income is SS which was $21.310.80 after medicare and prescription insurance, for 2013. Can he claim me as a dependent? Thank you Reply Yes Reply I moved my parents into my home 1 1/2 years ago due to their frailty. However, my parents own a home which they have been unable to sell or rent. Can I claim them as dependents if I provide more than 50% of their support in my home but do not pay the taxes or maintenance on their other home? Reply My mother is 87 years old and had her right leg amputated in may of last year. She has also had a stroke. I have had to move her in with me since she can no longer live a lone. She draws a small social security check and a ssi check. Both of them together on make a little over 750 dollars a month. What I need to know is if I claim my mother on my taxes will if affect her medicade. There is no way that I could possible pay for the amount of medication that she has to take. Reply Hi Martha, You claiming your mother as a dependent shouldn’t affect her eligibility for Medicaid. If you claim her you just have to make sure that you provide over half of her support. Thank you, Lisa Greene-Lewis Reply I knew that the medicaid has the family household income limit. If I claim my parent as dependent, will it make her ineligible for medicaid under Obamacare Act as our combined income will surpass the income limit? Hi Lisa, I am on SSDI, I live with my son and he helps support me. Is he able to claim me even thought I get over 2K a month in SSDI? I have searched this forum and cannot seem to find an answer to my question. Both I and my husband are disabled and collect disability checks. We also support my daughter and grandson. They live with us. My daughter is 19 yrs old, so her survivor benefits stopped when she stopped going to school. We pay all living expenses including food and baby food for everyone from our SSDI checks alone. My question is can we file IRS taxes, claiming them both, but not taking the earned income credit. Would we be able to get a refund for my daughter and grandson since they live off our disability. Reply I claim my dad but he is not in the country will that be a problem with the IRS? I am being threated by a family member that they will call the IRS for fraud any suggestions? Reply I already claim my grandson who lives with us. He is 8, disabled, on Medicaid and receives regular SSI. His father, not married to mother, my daughter, lives with us, too. He has no income, I collect no rent or food money from him. He pays his cellphone bill. He lived here the entire year. Can I claim him and not affect my grandson’s money? His money is straight SSI, not disability. I want to claim the father as he pays no bills, rent or groceries, etc. Thanks. Reply Both I and my husband are disabled and collect disability checks. We also support my daughter and grandson. My daughter is 19 yrs old, so her survivor benefits stopped when she stopped going to school. We pay all living expenses including food and baby food for everyone from our SSDI checks alone. My question is can we file IRS taxes, claiming them both, but not taking the earned income credit. Would we be able to get a refund for my daughter and grandson off our 1099-SS forms? Reply Both I and my husband are disabled and collect disability checks. We also support my daughter and grandson. My daughter is 19 yrs old, so her survivor benefits stopped when she stopped going to school. We pay all living expenses including food and baby food for everyone from our SSDI checks alone. My question is can we file IRS taxes, claiming them both, but not taking the earned income credit. Would we be able to get a refund for my daughter and grandson off our 1099-SS forms? Reply Can a parent be claimed if they live in their own home but do not file income tax return and the support is provided by the child? And does it matter if they receive a tax rebate on their own each year? Reply Hi Maryann, must of the credits are based on earn income that’s why you don’t receive a refund. Reply Can my fiance claim his mother if she lives in her own home that she owns free and clear? He does support her but she does get a property rebate from the state every year. Reply I understand the conditions for claiming my 81 year old mother as a dependent, and would qualify to do so. However, I am concerned about unintended consequences. Specifically, if I claim my 81 year old mother as a dependent for tax purposes in 2013, do I obligate my family to take on any other financial responsibility for my mother going forward – e.g., long-term care expenses if such care becomes necessary? Reply My mother in law worked for the first 3 months on 2013, earning roughly $10,000. We’ve been her sole means of support since April 2013. Can we claim her? Reply Your mother in law made over 3,900.00 in 2013 so you can not put her as your dependent. Reply Hi..My mother in law live with me and just got her ssn this year2014..,..I provide everything she need..She doesn’t have any income..Can I claim her as my dependant..Thanks Reply My mom’s Green card application is under review. She lived with me about 10 months in 2013 and I supported her full. She was able to receive her Work authorizationa and Social sercuity number in reference to her Green card application. Can I claim her as my dependent, even though she is not a Green card holder although she stayed for about 10 months in 2013? Appreciate your quick feedback and clarification. Reply My mom is living with me and receiving SSI, Can I claim her as my dependent? Reply yes you can you just have had to pay for support and also make sure your mom does not have other sources of income if she does then their are income restrictions but straight ssi you can claim her. Reply My 38 year old daughter lives in Germany (she is a U.S. citizen residing there.) I support her almost totally. She will not file taxes this year as she has nothing to file. Can I claim her as a dependent? Reply My son claimed me as a dependent on his taxes. Can I still file? Will he get as much as I would have if I filed? All criteria is met for him to claim me. Reply My husband and I have my grandmother living with us and we meet all the requirement to claim her. Were using turbotax. When I enter her information it decreases our tax refund by 1000.00. Why would this happen? I’ve reworked the figures multiple times just to make sure I’m not missing anything and it comes out the same every time. Reply My 89 year old mom lives with me. I know you don’t count her Social Security towards the $3900 per year….but she gets around $500 a month from my dad’s retirement (he’s dead) and some savings accounts and investments she has. These count as income, right? Reply what do we need to do to claim my mother as my dependent, she does not have a social security number and she only have ssi. I heard of itin#,, but not sure if we need to get one for her, and able to claim her as our dependent in my tax return. thanks Reply You can apply for ITIN by filling out W-7 form. You need to attach to your income tax return. On your income tax return you would put her name under dependent list but leave the social security part empty and write PARENT under relationship and you figure all of your tax calculation including her. It would be easier if you go and see professional person. Reply Can I claim both my parents as dependents if they live with me. My mother only receives social security and my dad receives social security and pension from the Texas Retirement System. He is 80 years old and received a 1099R every year since he retired but he has no taxes taken out and has not filed since he retired? I pay all bills and food expenses. Reply My dad earned almost 17k for 2013, i earned 25k, my mom is not working. Can i claim my mom as a dependent. i support them by paying their house rent Reply Can i claim my US citizen parents, if they are not residing in US, and i am supporting them in a different country ( not mexico, canada). They have no income and i usually wire them money for rent and other amenities. Reply I’ve been supporting my in-laws for the past 5 years. They are in their mid to late 60’s, have no social security or savings. Unfortunately, they live overseas. I think it’s so unfair that I cannot claim them as dependents or at least receive some sort of tax deduction for supporting them, especially when it effects my financial situation extremely. I was thinking of creating a petition on Change.org about this situation of having it be required to have your dependents living in the U.S., Canada or Mexico. It doesn’t make sense. Support is SUPPORT. Could you possibly tell me who I can send this petition too? Reply Is income that my mother receives from disability considered taxable income. I am trying to determine if I can file for my mother as a dependent if she receives dissability in addition to the finacial support that I provide for here living expenses while she is living with me. Reply I work under my mom thru ihss for 2months 160 per month, can I claim her on my tax return Reply Can I claim my mother if she owns her home. No mortgage. I pay for all of utilities, food, medication, taxes. She recieves a death benefit of $13,500 yrly from my fathers death (Social Security). Thats about $1,300 mo. Reply Hi Yvonne, If you provide over half of your mother’s support and she does not earn taxable income over $3,900, which her death benefit should not be if she doesn’t have any other income, then you can claim her. TurboTax will ask you simple questions and help you get the deduction for your mother if you’re eligible. Thank you, Lisa Greene-Lewis Reply I feel something needs to be cleared up. I send my diasabled, U.S. citizen, mother $200/month. She collects about $1600/month in SS. No one else sends her money. I provide 100% of her support but only if support does not count SS benefits… Can I get the deduction? « Older Comments Newer Comments » Leave a ReplyCancel reply Browse Related Articles Family Can You Claim Your Elderly Parents on Your Taxes? Family What Is a Dependent? An Introductory Guide to Dependent… Family Can I Claim My Parents as Dependents? Family Is This Tax Deductible? Care-taking for a Parent Tax Tips Divorce & Taxes 101: Filing Taxes After a Divorce Tax Planning Do You Financially Support Your Family Living Abroad? S… Deductions and Credits Who Counts as a Dependent for Taxes? Education Who Should Take Education Tax Breaks: Parents or Studen… Tax Planning 4 Errors to Avoid at Tax Time Family Child Tax Benefits: How Parents Can Save on Taxes
my 71 year old father lives with me and my husband and only has ssi .My husband and i support him and are his caregiver. Do we need to claim his ssi on taxes as income ? Reply
Hi Candice, No you would not claim his social security on your taxes. If he had any other taxable income he would file his taxes separately and include his social security may need to be included depending on his other income, but if he doesn’t have any other income he doesn’t need to file. Thank you, Lisa Greene-Lewis Reply
If my mom is on ssi but welfare doesnt know I live with her can she lose her ssi if I claim her on my taxes for the last three years
My mother has been out of work for almost 3 years do to a work injury that disabled her she just started receiving SS disability in December 2014 I support end her for the last 3 years she did get a $20,000 settlement last year bout most of it was to pay off her debt that was built up can I claim her on my taxes if so do I need and paper trail? Reply
I pay a visit each day a few websites and sites to read articles or reviews, however this weeb site provides feature based articles. Reply
I am 56 and am on disability and own the home me and my mother live in and i provide for most the her support. she draws a pension of $500 a month plus her SS. I do not file taxes now would i be able to file and calm her. Reply
My home has been paid off and I’ve been on disability for years my income is not enough to file income tax from what they say. can my son or daughter use my taxes or other expenses as a deduction and if possible how far back are they allowed to go? Reply
Tax Experts: My wife’s parents (she herself is a resident alien) were here earlier this year and met the 183 day prerequisite . They have since gone back to China. Mw wife and I file a joint return. Am I amble to claim them as dependents? They didn’t earn any monies. Thanks, Barry Reply
My mom is a Filipino Citizen and has no income at all. She is currently in Philippines but once lived in the US from 1995- 2006 and worked at Jordan from 2011-2014. Is she eligible? and she is 48 years of age Reply
I moved into my mom’s to support her after she was diagnosed with ALZ and dementia. She only collects social security. I never changed my address to her’s can I claim her as a dependent? Also I pay for her to go to an Adult Day Care while I’m at work is that an deductible expense? Reply
Hi, I want to know if and what I need to be able to claim my mother as a dependant. She is a Mexican citizen but I have had her move in with me since August 2014. She is 55 years old and has no income. I am a US resident and I am working on getting my citizenship and saving enough money to be able to request her residency. Please advise. Thanks. Reply
Can i claim my parents as dependents if im the only source of income in the house hod and pay all the bills . Fpl meds and ect. They both do not have income im their only sourse of income Reply
My mother is 93, legally blind and lives with me. I provide her with food, shelter and transportation and other living expenses. She receives SS only. May I claim her as a dependent? Reply
My mom has lived with me for the past 3 years. She does not work but collects retirement monthly. I’m not sure if that is non-taxable or not?? I’ve never thought about claiming her as a dependent on my taxes until today. She doesn’t collect SS. The house is mine, I pay the mortgage, all of the bills and most groceries. Can I claim her? Or would her retirement need to be under the $3,900? Reply
I claim my parents as dependents on my joint return with my wife. They are US residents for 9 years now, ages 82 and 76. They have no income. They do not qualify for medicare or medicaid and don’t have health insurance. I cannot possibly afford to insure them. Will I have to pay a penalty for them or can I gat an exemption. Reply
Hi TurboTaxLisa! Someone touched on the joint account issue, but I didn’t see a reply. What cap, if any, is there on what assets the dependent parent is holding? What if it’s a joint savings account with me? The worksheet asks for a beginning of the year and end of the year total for the dependents holdings. Do we list one-half of the savings since it’s half mine? Thanks! Reply
My daughter’s grandmother lives with me, with her daughter (my girlfriend), and her granddaughter. I pay for all my girlfriend’s mothers’ support costs, and she is a U.S. citizen who is in this country 10 months per year, making way under $3,900 per year.Can I claim her as a deduction? Meaning, is my daughter’s biological link to her sufficient to fulfill the biological criterion, even though her daughter and I are not married? Reply
I am purchasing a second home in my name for my parents. They are not contributing anything financially for the home. I will also need to make some modifications such as wider doors for wheelchair access and ramp outside to accommodate their needs. Is it better to allow them to live rent free (as planned) or charge them a nominal fee? Plus, am I able to claim my step-father as a dependent (never adopted me) if I cover 51% of his living expenses? Thanks! Reply
my friends mom said that social security is taking 110 dollars a month out of here check indefinatly because he claimed her on his taxes as a dependant…. can that be possible ? doesnt make any sence to me i ve been claiming my dad for 12 years never any thing like this Reply
My mom is on SSI *$724.00/month+she gets $85.00 in food stamps. I provide a lot of financial support for her. Since she is on SSI can I claim her as dependent? What are the qualifications for that? Reply
Hi Irina, As long as she is a US citizen or national, you provided over half of her support, and she did not make over $3,900 taxable income in 2013, $3,950 in 2014, you should be able to claim her. If she has no other income that would be combined with the social security income increasing the total combined income to $25,000, her social security income should not be taxable. Thank you, Lisa Greene-Lewis Reply
Hi Lisa, I’ve been supporting my parents 100% since October or November 2013. They will be getting their social security numbers and green cards August of this year (2014). Can I claim them for 2014? Thanks in advance.
i have a question If I start recieving payments for ssi in november can my sister file me and my children on her taxes for the year
Hello, If someone could help me with figuring something out for future reference, it would be greatly appreciated. My father SSI, and lives on a fixed income, however, they do not take taxes out of his SS income. But he cares for two of his young grand children in his retirement. So, my question is, that since his income isn’t at the limit in which he has to file taxes, and doesn’t have taxes taken from his monthly payments, can he still file, and get the exemptions for caring for his two grandchildren for 100% of their needs? I’m unsure about it, because they do not take taxes from his monthly SS payments, but he still has dependents supported by that income. Any help in figuring this out would be appreciated. Thanks in advance! 🙂 Reply
Why file? There is no benefit to be had, since no taxes were taken out there will be no tax refund. If there were someone else involved, say a working spouse with earned income, then there would likely be a benefit to filing a tax return. Reply
I care for my parents in India and provide them support for living expenses. Also, we take care of their medical expenses. Can I claim their expenses under mine? They are non-us-citizens and stayed here for 3 months last year. They visit for 6 months every year. Reply
In 2007 I had to move my mom and her mobile home on my property because she has vascular dementia and I needed to watch over her. Now she is in her latter stages and we have a full time caregiver living with her. She pays for her caregiver, utilities, food, clothes and medical expenses out of her SSI. I pay for the increase in my land taxes per year, her rent, I take her shopping, to doctors, etc. at my expense and I take care of all her business like paying her bills with her money. I also will take care of her for free from time to time to give the caregiver a break. Besides SSI she receives a small interest income on her checking account. Can I claim her as a dependent on mine and my husband’s income tax return? Reply
I care for and live with both my parents, however one of my siblings may already be claiming them as dependents. How can I confirm this without asking them directly? Reply
Hi cczoe, if a parent has gross income less than $3,900 (don’t count their social security- unless they filed their own tax return and a portion of the social security was taxable then only count the part not taxed) and you provided more than half of their support (lodging, food, transportation, medical etc.) you can claim them as a dependent on your tax return. If you file your return electronically and the parent’s social security number is on a return already filed, your return will be rejected from electronic filing. Then you know if someone has taken them on their return. Note: If no one has provided more than 50% of a parent’s total support but two or more persons collectively did, then any contributor who provided more than 10% of support, can claim the parent (gross income rule still applies) – those sharing support must agree which of them will claim the exemption and Form 2120 must be signed by all contributors. Hope this answers your question. Lee Lee Note: Reply
I cared for my Mother the past 5 years. The last 2 years she received a benefit from VA for her care which is non-taxable. (aid and attendance). She paid me out of her SSI for taking care of her (she could not get VA if she did not pay a caregiver) and she could not care for herself. I was also her guardian. It is all documented. My question is that since she paid me out of her SSI and I paid over half of what I was paid out to the house bills and insurance, am I able to claim her as a dependent? She did not have any earned income. Reply
My parents live in another country with my brother. I sent some money (51% or more of their support costs) during 2013 and their income is less than $3700. They have been in US just for 25 days during last 4 years. Can I claim them as dependents? Reply
No. They did not meet the residency requirement to qualify as dependents. In addition, your parents should be US citizen or green card holder living in the US. Reply
You can claim a dependent who is a resident of Mexico or Canada. They would then meet the citizenship test for dependency. And then you could apply for an ITIN for your dependents. You wouldn’t qualify for the head of household status, but you can claim the exemption. Then they have to live in the U.S. for more than 6 months in order to claim them for head of household as long as you can provide proof that you support them. You cannot claim as a dependent a child who lives in a foreign country other than Can ada or Mexico, unless the child is a U.S. citizen, U.S. resident alien, or U.S. national. Reply
I live withmy son who provides over 51% of my support. I am a widow and my only income is SS which was $21.310.80 after medicare and prescription insurance, for 2013. Can he claim me as a dependent? Thank you Reply
I moved my parents into my home 1 1/2 years ago due to their frailty. However, my parents own a home which they have been unable to sell or rent. Can I claim them as dependents if I provide more than 50% of their support in my home but do not pay the taxes or maintenance on their other home? Reply
My mother is 87 years old and had her right leg amputated in may of last year. She has also had a stroke. I have had to move her in with me since she can no longer live a lone. She draws a small social security check and a ssi check. Both of them together on make a little over 750 dollars a month. What I need to know is if I claim my mother on my taxes will if affect her medicade. There is no way that I could possible pay for the amount of medication that she has to take. Reply
Hi Martha, You claiming your mother as a dependent shouldn’t affect her eligibility for Medicaid. If you claim her you just have to make sure that you provide over half of her support. Thank you, Lisa Greene-Lewis Reply
I knew that the medicaid has the family household income limit. If I claim my parent as dependent, will it make her ineligible for medicaid under Obamacare Act as our combined income will surpass the income limit?
Hi Lisa, I am on SSDI, I live with my son and he helps support me. Is he able to claim me even thought I get over 2K a month in SSDI?
I have searched this forum and cannot seem to find an answer to my question. Both I and my husband are disabled and collect disability checks. We also support my daughter and grandson. They live with us. My daughter is 19 yrs old, so her survivor benefits stopped when she stopped going to school. We pay all living expenses including food and baby food for everyone from our SSDI checks alone. My question is can we file IRS taxes, claiming them both, but not taking the earned income credit. Would we be able to get a refund for my daughter and grandson since they live off our disability. Reply
I claim my dad but he is not in the country will that be a problem with the IRS? I am being threated by a family member that they will call the IRS for fraud any suggestions? Reply
I already claim my grandson who lives with us. He is 8, disabled, on Medicaid and receives regular SSI. His father, not married to mother, my daughter, lives with us, too. He has no income, I collect no rent or food money from him. He pays his cellphone bill. He lived here the entire year. Can I claim him and not affect my grandson’s money? His money is straight SSI, not disability. I want to claim the father as he pays no bills, rent or groceries, etc. Thanks. Reply
Both I and my husband are disabled and collect disability checks. We also support my daughter and grandson. My daughter is 19 yrs old, so her survivor benefits stopped when she stopped going to school. We pay all living expenses including food and baby food for everyone from our SSDI checks alone. My question is can we file IRS taxes, claiming them both, but not taking the earned income credit. Would we be able to get a refund for my daughter and grandson off our 1099-SS forms? Reply
Both I and my husband are disabled and collect disability checks. We also support my daughter and grandson. My daughter is 19 yrs old, so her survivor benefits stopped when she stopped going to school. We pay all living expenses including food and baby food for everyone from our SSDI checks alone. My question is can we file IRS taxes, claiming them both, but not taking the earned income credit. Would we be able to get a refund for my daughter and grandson off our 1099-SS forms? Reply
Can a parent be claimed if they live in their own home but do not file income tax return and the support is provided by the child? And does it matter if they receive a tax rebate on their own each year? Reply
Hi Maryann, must of the credits are based on earn income that’s why you don’t receive a refund. Reply
Can my fiance claim his mother if she lives in her own home that she owns free and clear? He does support her but she does get a property rebate from the state every year. Reply
I understand the conditions for claiming my 81 year old mother as a dependent, and would qualify to do so. However, I am concerned about unintended consequences. Specifically, if I claim my 81 year old mother as a dependent for tax purposes in 2013, do I obligate my family to take on any other financial responsibility for my mother going forward – e.g., long-term care expenses if such care becomes necessary? Reply
My mother in law worked for the first 3 months on 2013, earning roughly $10,000. We’ve been her sole means of support since April 2013. Can we claim her? Reply
Hi..My mother in law live with me and just got her ssn this year2014..,..I provide everything she need..She doesn’t have any income..Can I claim her as my dependant..Thanks Reply
My mom’s Green card application is under review. She lived with me about 10 months in 2013 and I supported her full. She was able to receive her Work authorizationa and Social sercuity number in reference to her Green card application. Can I claim her as my dependent, even though she is not a Green card holder although she stayed for about 10 months in 2013? Appreciate your quick feedback and clarification. Reply
yes you can you just have had to pay for support and also make sure your mom does not have other sources of income if she does then their are income restrictions but straight ssi you can claim her. Reply
My 38 year old daughter lives in Germany (she is a U.S. citizen residing there.) I support her almost totally. She will not file taxes this year as she has nothing to file. Can I claim her as a dependent? Reply
My son claimed me as a dependent on his taxes. Can I still file? Will he get as much as I would have if I filed? All criteria is met for him to claim me. Reply
My husband and I have my grandmother living with us and we meet all the requirement to claim her. Were using turbotax. When I enter her information it decreases our tax refund by 1000.00. Why would this happen? I’ve reworked the figures multiple times just to make sure I’m not missing anything and it comes out the same every time. Reply
My 89 year old mom lives with me. I know you don’t count her Social Security towards the $3900 per year….but she gets around $500 a month from my dad’s retirement (he’s dead) and some savings accounts and investments she has. These count as income, right? Reply
what do we need to do to claim my mother as my dependent, she does not have a social security number and she only have ssi. I heard of itin#,, but not sure if we need to get one for her, and able to claim her as our dependent in my tax return. thanks Reply
You can apply for ITIN by filling out W-7 form. You need to attach to your income tax return. On your income tax return you would put her name under dependent list but leave the social security part empty and write PARENT under relationship and you figure all of your tax calculation including her. It would be easier if you go and see professional person. Reply
Can I claim both my parents as dependents if they live with me. My mother only receives social security and my dad receives social security and pension from the Texas Retirement System. He is 80 years old and received a 1099R every year since he retired but he has no taxes taken out and has not filed since he retired? I pay all bills and food expenses. Reply
My dad earned almost 17k for 2013, i earned 25k, my mom is not working. Can i claim my mom as a dependent. i support them by paying their house rent Reply
Can i claim my US citizen parents, if they are not residing in US, and i am supporting them in a different country ( not mexico, canada). They have no income and i usually wire them money for rent and other amenities. Reply
I’ve been supporting my in-laws for the past 5 years. They are in their mid to late 60’s, have no social security or savings. Unfortunately, they live overseas. I think it’s so unfair that I cannot claim them as dependents or at least receive some sort of tax deduction for supporting them, especially when it effects my financial situation extremely. I was thinking of creating a petition on Change.org about this situation of having it be required to have your dependents living in the U.S., Canada or Mexico. It doesn’t make sense. Support is SUPPORT. Could you possibly tell me who I can send this petition too? Reply
Is income that my mother receives from disability considered taxable income. I am trying to determine if I can file for my mother as a dependent if she receives dissability in addition to the finacial support that I provide for here living expenses while she is living with me. Reply
Can I claim my mother if she owns her home. No mortgage. I pay for all of utilities, food, medication, taxes. She recieves a death benefit of $13,500 yrly from my fathers death (Social Security). Thats about $1,300 mo. Reply
Hi Yvonne, If you provide over half of your mother’s support and she does not earn taxable income over $3,900, which her death benefit should not be if she doesn’t have any other income, then you can claim her. TurboTax will ask you simple questions and help you get the deduction for your mother if you’re eligible. Thank you, Lisa Greene-Lewis Reply
I feel something needs to be cleared up. I send my diasabled, U.S. citizen, mother $200/month. She collects about $1600/month in SS. No one else sends her money. I provide 100% of her support but only if support does not count SS benefits… Can I get the deduction?