We live in Tennessee. My girlfriend receives social security disability income (SSDI) and has no other income. She lived with me all year in 2016. She is older than me. She received a lump sum back payment in November 2016.
1. Do I include her SSDI benefit in my income?
2. Does she still count as my dependent?
- I have to pay more than half of her cost of living for the year. Does the SSDI count against me? Or, because she has no income other than SSDI, am I still safe?
- She is older than me. I heard the laws changed recently. Is that true?
3. What about the lump sum payment? Do I only include the portion that is for 2016 (assuming I include it at all)? Do I use it as paying part of her living expenses (assuming I have to do this too)?
