Claiming EITC Without a Qualifying Child
You can claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) if you don’t
claim a qualifying child for the EITC. But, you, or your spouse if you
file a joint return, must have worked for someone, or run or own a
business or farm AND earned less than $20,430 during 2016.
https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/claiming-eitc-without-a-...