The money you hear about people getting for just filing a
tax return claiming kids is dependent on you having some earned income (wages
or self employment). Without earned income, you are not eligible for the
"refundable" Earned Income Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit.
Child support is neither earned income or even reportable income.
Social security payments
to children.
If the Social Security
(SS) payments. Including SS disability, were under his/her SS number (as they
usually are), it does not get reported on your return. If it does need to be
reported, it would go on his/her individual return. If that was his/her only
income, it does not get reported at all. They do not need to file tax
returns. Child support is not income to you or them.
SS is only taxable &
reportable when added to sufficient other income. Social security only
becomes taxable, when his income, including 1/2 his social security, reaches
$25,000
You may still claim him, as a
dependent, as long as he is not providing more than 1/2 his own support
(including the social security being spent on him). Any part of his SS $ put
into savings does not count as support.
Note that the requirement is
not that you provide more than 1/2 his support (as it is with non
child dependants , but only that he didn't provide 1/2. The child support, you receive from the father is considered your money, for the support test. The support value of the home you provided is the fair market rental value
of the home plus utilities & other expenses divided by the number of
occupants.
Here's a good article on the
subject:
http://www.fool.com/taxes/2002/taxes020315.htm
