Can I claim my niece&nephew?They receive gov. assistance.They&their mom have lived w/me the last 7mths & I pay all the bills+provide 4 her kids in many ways.

I pay all the bills. Buy them clothes, baby formula, food, etc. Her public assistance doesn't last her all month. She is giving me permission to claim them as dependents. The father is not involved( he is in jail). Also, I am not on her file for the public assistance she receives. If I claim her kids I just want to make sure neither one of us can get in trouble if audited and wouldn't want her to get denied benefits because of it.