Was claimed as a dependent to help my mother during tax filing in Jan! Is there any way people like us can receive money?!?

[Enchantingwonders]

Besides unemployment, which is being extremely difficult.. Are there ANY programs that are known?? I know there are small business grants and such. But I need to know about this one thing. It's crazy that even if we worked, and paid in, did our taxes, etc. That we wouldn't get anything. I'm 34 and in a VERY tough situation as are many of us who were claimed to help out others. PLEASE HELP?!? 

[xmasbaby0]

Not sure what you mean by "helping your mom" by being claimed as her dependent.  Either you can be claimed or you can't.  She does not need your permission to claim you if you meet the criteria to be claimed as a dependent.

Were you a qualifying relative?    You cannot be a qualifying child due to your age, but you could be a qualifying relative if you had less than $4200 of income in 2019.  If your income was more than $4200, then your mother needs to amend her return, and you file your own return that says you cannot be claimed, and the IRS will have to sort it out.  Since your SSN is already in the system for the year, you cannot e-file.  Your return has to be mailed.

WHO CAN I CLAIM AS A DEPENDENT?

You can claim a child, relative, friend, fiance (etc.) as a dependent on your 2019 taxes as long as they meet the following requirements:

Qualifying child

• They are related to you.

• They cannot be claimed as a dependent by someone else.

• They are a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or   Mexican resident.

• They are not filing a joint return with their spouse.

• They are under the age of 19 (or 24 for full-time students).

• No age limit for permanently and totally disabled children

  •      They live with you for more than half the year (exceptions apply).

Qualifying relative

• They don't have to be related to you (despite the name).

• They cannot be claimed as a dependent by someone else.

• They are a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.

• They are not filing a joint return with their spouse.

• They lived with you the entire year.

• They made less than $4200  (not counting Social Security)

• You provided more than half of their financial support. More info

When you add someone as a dependent, we'll ask a series of questions to make sure you can claim them.

Related Information:

• Does a dependent have to live with me?

• What does "financially support another person" mean?

• Can I claim a newborn baby?

[Enchantingwonders]

 I meant helped her by getting her more money when she claimed me. We both already did our taxes back in January. 

[Enchantingwonders]

Also, I made less than $4,200 in 2019 for sure. So I'm not entirely sure what to do. Does she need to amend her taxes to take me off even though I've already filed? 

[xmasbaby0]

Here's the thing--if you made less than $4200 and your mother paid for over half of your support, she could claim you as a dependent.  So you cannot say that you cannot be claimed--you can be claimed.

[Enchantingwonders]

If you read the entire chat, I absolutely could have been claimed at the moment and WAS claimed. No worries. We need to move past that part onto the more pressing question of if there is anything I can do to get any sort of assistance. I was asking if she/ and or I need to amend our taxes to take me off to be able to try and get money from the IRS? I have since moved and no longer live with her if that makes a difference. 

[xmasbaby0]

So you want to revise history?  You say that your mother could rightfully claim you for that tax year and she did.  You correctly indicated on your return that you could be claimed.  Now you both want to change your returns to falsify them?  Because, in effect, that is what you are suggesting perhaps without realizing it.   Going forward, if you are not a dependent for 2020, then you can get that stimulus money when you file your 2020 return next year, since you say your circumstances for 2020 are different. 

As for other assistance in these difficult times, be tenacious in your efforts to get unemployment compensation in your state.  Even self-employed people should be eligible for unemployment compensation.

[Enchantingwonders]

Thank you for your time and effort.