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[Deanna744]

I have a question. I do not work due to having a brain tumor, seizures, and I am legally blind. Is there any money or any funds that I can get from the state. I do not collect welfare. I do however receive SSI. Which doesn’t cover even close to anything to support my children. I depend on family to help me with everything. Is there a way to file my children even though I do not work? 

[xmasbaby0]

No.  So sorry, but unless you have income earned from working, there are no child-related credits that you are eligible to receive.  All of the child-related credits that can be entered on a tax return are based on having income earned from working.

If your children are actually being supported by another family member then perhaps that family member should claim you and the children as dependents.

Here are the rules they must meet to claim either you or the children:

WHO CAN I CLAIM AS A DEPENDENT?

You can claim a child, relative, friend, fiance (etc.) as a dependent on your 2018 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 $4,150 in 2018

• 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?

[Hal_Al]

There are two types of dependents, "Qualifying Children"(QC) and standard ("Qualifying Relative" in IRS parlance even though they don't have to actually be related). There is no income limit for a QC but there is an age limit, a relationship test and residence test. Only a QC qualifies a taxpayer for the Earned Income Credit and the Child Tax Credit. They are interrelated but the rules are different for each.

So, while it's possible for another relative to claim your children, they won't get the big child based refundable credits unless they lived in the same household as the children.