Stimulus payment for children under 17 not claimed on tax return

[Countess]

My husband and I file a joint tax return every year.  I receive Social Security and our adopted child under the age of 17 receives Social Security benefits based on both my Social Security and SSI, as he was  disabled since birth.  We do not claim him on our return, as the SS payment pays over half of his support.  I know my husband and I will receive stimulus money, but will our child receive a stimulus payment since he is not claimed on our tax return? 

[NCperson]

how are you determining that the child is paying over 50% of his support? 

Fair share of rent? Fair share of utilities? Fair share of medical expenses / medical insurance premiums? food? clothing? schooling?  does all that add up to more than 50% of what it takes to support him?   

if the child isn't on your return, you wouldn't receive the $500 for him, but the broader question is whether you should be claiming the child. Normally the test for support is based on expenses not based on income.  

[Countess]

We took into account the number of people living in the house and divided daily living expenses such as rent, utilities, and food among all of us.  We added in clothing, personal toiletries and such, medical expenses,  medical premium, and schooling.  Fortunately, I retired with a "Cadillac" retiree medical plan, which allows me to cover my husband and other dependents, as well as a secondary to Medicare coverage for myself.  The plan covers, medical, dental, and vision and compared to a personal plan with such coverage, the retiree medical plan cost is very much lower.  Schooling is public school special education, so our costs for all programs and extra curricular activities are minimal, and we live within the school district he goes to, so we pay school taxes.  We do pay for school lunches from his money.  All in all, the SS monies he receives pays for over half of his expenses.  We pay the rest, but cannot claim him on our tax return.  I realize that we would not be able to receive the $500 dollars for him as a dependent, but wondered if because those who receive SS are now going to receive stimulus payments, will he receive his $500 even though he is under 17 years old.  It appears to me he is in a gray area.

[NCperson]

the question is really whether he receives $1200....  

1) a taxpayer and everyone on social security receives $1200

2) if you have a qualifying dependent (someone you claim on your tax return who is under the age of 17), YOU receive $500

3) if you are a dependent on someone else's tax return, you receive nothing.

this child would be part of #1 and not part of #2 or #3. 

i am not sure what occurs. 

the IRS is required by law to mail a letter explaining all within 15 days after the stimulus payment is made. 

[Countess]

It sounds as though you are correct.  He is not allowed to be claimed as a dependent on our tax return, but he does receive SS.  So the question is not about the $500, it is about $1200 paid to SS recipients and whether they are able to identify a non dependent person, and if there is a minimum age requirement to receive it.  Very interesting.  Thank you for your insight and response.  I suppose I will have to wait and see how it plays out.