The EIC is calculated on a bell curve. At the bottom of this post there is a table that should help you understand the amount of EIC you are receiving.
The maximum amounts that one can earn and receive the EIC for 2016 are as follows:
Single or Head of Household Married Filing Jointly
with 3 children $47.955 $53.505
with 2 children $44,648 $50,198
with 1 child $39,296 $44,846
with 0 children $14,880 $20,430
Maximum Earned Income Credit (this is calculated on a bell curve based on earnings)
with 3 children $6,269
with 2 children $5572
with 1 child $3373
with 0 children $506
To receive the EIC the income must be EARNED income; unemployment compensation does not count. You cannot have investment income over $3400, and you must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien for the whole tax year. You must have a valid Social Security number. Your filing status cannot be married filing separately. If you are a single filer with no dependents, you must be between the ages of 25 to 65.
There is a table that starts on page 30 of IRS publication 596 regarding EIC and the amount you can receive for your earned income:
www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p596.pdf
**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**