If you have no taxable income (Dept of Labor benefits), but pay a mortgage, should you file a return for a credit for the interest paid and possibly see a refund in OK?

[Juicestacy]

My mother does not receive a paycheck, her sole income is a monthly non-taxable department of labor benefit payment after an injury at her former job. She has not been required to or bothered to file a return in OK where she resides for the past three years. She's wondering if her mortgage interest is cause for her to file a return and expect to see a refund. She also has charitable donations. Single, no dependents. If not a Federal, should she File in Oklahoma?

[Texas Roger]

Mortgage interest and charitable donations are deductions from income which can lower taxable income. If she had no taxable income, she would get no benefit from the deductions.