In 2018 my roommate claimed me on his taxes I’m on ssi. They want to talk to me about it am I at risk of losing my benefits?

[xmasbaby0]

Who wants to talk to you?  The IRS?  Did you get a letter?  Did your roommate really pay for over half your support ---- or did the roommate claim you just to get a tax credit without you knowing he was doing it?

[blyssmom1960]

Yes I received a letter today from social security. In 2018 I was having a lot of unforeseen expenses so he helped me a lot I still paid my own bills and food etc.yes I was aware he added me for just that year we were told he could.

[blyssmom1960]

I’ve tried contacting the ssi office and can’t reach anyone. I’m disabled and this is the only money I have to live, I’m scared of losing my benefits. I just don’t know where to go from here. 

[xmasbaby0]

We help with income tax issues here.  We cannot help with Social Security or SSI.   You will have to talk to SS to sort this out and see what they want.   It is actually quite common for people who are on SSI or Social Security to be claimed as dependents on someone else's tax return, so don't panic.  Wait and talk to Social Security to see what they want.

[Opus 17]

You will have to reply as explained in the letter you received.

Here is some information from Social Security.

https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-eligibility-ussi.htm

https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-income-ussi.htm

Income that counts for SSI includes free room and board.  Having more income reduces your benefit.   Income does not include money that someone else pays toward your expenses for items other than food or shelter.

For income tax purposes, someone not related to you can claim you as a dependent if you had less than $4050 of taxable income (for 2018) and paid more than half your total living expenses. 

So social security probably wants to know exactly how your roommate was able to contribute more than half your total financial support.  If your roommate paid your share of food and rent, that will count as income and could reduce your SSI benefit.   If your roommate paid for other expenses, such as medical bills and transportation, that would not count as income that might reduce your SSI.