Can I file as disabled as I have in previous years?

[jcier1]

I have been collecting disablility retirement. Shouldn't I file as disabled?

[Vanessa A]

There is not a filing status of disabled. If you are blind, there is an additional $1,350 added to your standard deduction which will decrease your taxable income. However, if your only source of income is social security disability, then chances are you do not need to file a tax return.  If you have other types of retirement income, such as a pension, then you may need to file a return.

There could be a number of variables in your situation, such as type of payments you receive, other income you may have, and filing status. You can start a return in the TurboTax Free Edition to enter your tax documents to see if you need to file a return or not. But, there is not a disabled status.

[Opus 17]

For IRS purposes, disabled means "unable to perform gainful work".  Sometimes, people are medically disabled or unable to perform their original job, but would be able to perform other "gainful" work, and therefore are not disabled for IRS purposes.

On your tax return, checking the box will enable a small additional deduction.  It would also make someone else eligible to claim a dependent care credit for you, if you are unable to care for yourself.  There aren't many other deductions.

Your income may not be taxable in which case you don't have to file, or you could prepare a return with your information and file it just to get confirmation that you owe no tax.  Turbotax should be free if you don't have additional income (like investments or IRA withdrawals).

If you have other income besides a disability check, it may be taxable even if your disability check is not taxable.