Vanessa A
Expert Alumni

Retirement tax questions

Claiming your elderly parents do not affect Social Security or Medicare.  If she has another type of health insurance, such as a state insurance, then it may, but you would have to contact the state to find out.

 

To claim someone as a Qualifying Relative, they must be:

  • Your child ( including step children, adoptive children and foster children) or a descendent of them
  • Your sibling (including half siblings) or a child of your sibling or a sibling-in-law
  • Your parent or grandparents, including step parents and in laws
  • Any other person that lived with you for the entire tax year
  • Not a qualifying child of another taxpayer
  • Someone that you provided over half of their support for during the tax year
  • Has less than $4,700 in income (not counting social security)

If she does meet the criteria to be a qualifying relative and you choose to claim her, then you would be able to claim the $500 Non-Refundable Other Dependent Credit as well as file as Head of Household.

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post
**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"