In 2023 I signed up for a dependent care benefit for my mother's medical expenses. Why can't I select her name if she is an adult dependent for the dependent care credit?

[xmasbaby0]

Did you claim your mom as a dependent on your 2023 tax return?

Did you pay someone to take care of your mom so that you could work?  That is what the childcare and dependent care credit is for.  

Did you enter income from working before you tried to work on the dependent care credit?  You cannot get the credit if you have not entered a W-2 or self-employment income that does not show a loss.

[DoninGA]

Did you indicate the she was disabled?

[xmasbaby0]

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900643-what-is-the-child-and-dependent-care-credit

[rjs]

Medical expenses are not dependent care. You have dependent care expenses if your mother lived with you and she was physically or mentally not able to care for herself, so you had to pay someone to care for her so that you could go to work.

Here is how the IRS defines "physically or mentally not able to care for herself," from IRS Publication 503:

"Persons who can't dress, clean, or feed themselves because of physical or mental disabilities are considered not able to care for themselves. Also, persons who must have constant attention to prevent them from injuring themselves or others are considered not able to care for themselves."