The federal earned income credit has two additional qualifications that Maryland does not. You do not have to have a social security number to qualify for Maryland's earned income credit, but you do federally. Additionally, if you are filing without children, the federal earned income credit has an age requirement:
- You must be at least 18 if you are a qualified former foster youth or a qualified homeless youth, regardless of whether or not you are a specified student
- You must be at least age 19 if you aren't a specified student, qualified former foster youth, or qualified homeless youth
- You must be at least age 24 if you are a specified student unless you are a qualified former foster youth or qualified homeless youth
There is no age qualification for the Maryland earned income credit. As long as you meet the other qualifications, you would not be restricted from taking it due to your age.
It may have appeared on your federal return and then disappeared if you are a full-time student aged 19-24. It would originally appear, but then when you answered you are a full-time student it would take it away.
