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Level 2
February 25, 2022
Question

Claiming Adult Dependent

  • February 25, 2022
  • 7 replies
  • 55 views

Can someone claim an adult dependent, who is a qualifying relative, on their taxes if the person claiming them has little to no income but receives SSI and uses that to provide support and pay bills? 

 

My sister wants to know if she can claim our uncle on her taxes. He lives with her and does not work. She gets SSI and also doesn't work but provides support for both him and her. 

 

Turbotax program says she would qualify for the stimulus money for claiming him as her dependent.  However the support she provided is not earned but through SSI.  Even with no income it shows that she still qualfies for the extra stimulus money for him. But he already received his stimulus last year. Will she have to pay it back if she files and claims him as her depedent? Should she not claim him to avoid double dipping as some people call it? 

 

Thank You. 

7 replies

DawnC
Level 15
February 25, 2022

Yes.  The support she provides does not have to come from earned income.    If she meets the qualifications to claim him, she would be entitled to receive the stimulus money also, even if he already received it.   No, neither of them will have to pay it back if she can claim him and does so.    And yes, if she provides over 50% of his total support, and meet the other requirements, she should claim him.   But he should not file a tax return and claim himself; a person can only be claimed as a dependent on one tax return each year.   

 

Here are the qualifications.

 

 

Qualifying relative

  • They don't have to be related to you (despite the name).
  • They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
  • They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
  • They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
  • They lived with you the entire year (exceptions apply).
  • They made less than $4,300 in 2021.
  • You provided more than half of their financial support.   Click this link for more details.   

To determine this, compare how much you spend on this person's necessities with how much they (or somebody else) contributes.

  • Divide per-household costs like utilities, groceries, and lodging by the number of household members to determine the per-person cost.
  • If your mortgage is paid off, use the fair rental value of your home to figure the lodging expense.

If you are paying more than 50% of another person's necessary living expenses, you financially support that person.

 

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Level 2
February 25, 2022

Awesome! Thank you for answering so quickly. I will let her know she is all good to file. 

Level 2
February 25, 2022

Sorry just have 1 more question to ask. Our uncle is not disabled. She can still claim him even though he doesn't have a disability, right? I thought i read online somewhere that you could only claim adult dependents if they were disabled, or in college.  He's just been down on his luck so she took him in to try and help him get back on his feet.  

AmyC
Level 15
February 25, 2022

Yes, the law now allows anyone to be claimed provided they meet the provisions listed above. The IRS even has a quick quiz now to make it easier. You can verify you meet conditions with Whom May I Claim as a Dependent?

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Alumni - Champ
February 25, 2022

Just be aware that the support you provide her (whether you claim her or not) could impact her SSI payments.