Why sign in to the Community?

  • Submit a question
  • Check your notifications
Sign in to the Community or Sign in to TurboTax and start working on your taxes
Level 2
posted Jul 31, 2024 12:45:47 PM

Medical disability

 Must I file taxes while unemployed? I am on medical disability with minimal snap food benefits which have been drastically reduced as a result of the disability. My health insurance was also vastly affected. Medicaid with Medicare now and my own health insurance? I now have to pay for an advantage plan is that right? And pay copays and rx costs. I am unemployed with a daughter who is a dependent and receives non court ordered minimal child support. Must I file taxes and what are possible credits available for my situation?

0 8 16280
1 Best answer
Expert Alumni
Jul 31, 2024 1:09:39 PM

It depends on if you or your employer paid the disability insurance premiums that you are receiving the $1834/mo from.

 

If you paid the entire premium, the disability payments are not taxable. If your employer paid, then the payments are taxable. If the payments were shared, then the payment are partially taxable. 

 

Please see link below for additional information

 

https://www.irs.gov/faqs/interest-dividends-other-types-of-income/life-insurance-disability-insurance-proceeds/life-insurance-disability-insurance-proceeds-1

8 Replies
Level 15
Jul 31, 2024 12:52:02 PM

Do you receive any type of income?  Such as Unemployment Compensation from your state or Social Security Disability benefits?

 

If you receive no income of any kind and you do not have health insurance through one of the State Marketplace Exchanges or from healthcare.gov where you would have received a Form 1095-A, then you do not need to file a tax return.

Level 2
Jul 31, 2024 1:02:58 PM

I do receive medical disability benefits ($1834/mo)

Also Snap food benefits ($23/mo)

Medicare with medicaid with Kaiser permanente. Copays often.

Expert Alumni
Jul 31, 2024 1:03:22 PM

Tax credits are calculated the income earned or amount of tax you must pay (tax liability). If you do not have any earned income or income that produce tax liability, it's unlikely that you would not qualify for any tax credits. 

Level 2
Jul 31, 2024 1:06:24 PM

I would NOT qualify for any tax credits including my daughter who I am primary care giver with her father declaring her on his taxes though.

Expert Alumni
Jul 31, 2024 1:09:39 PM

It depends on if you or your employer paid the disability insurance premiums that you are receiving the $1834/mo from.

 

If you paid the entire premium, the disability payments are not taxable. If your employer paid, then the payments are taxable. If the payments were shared, then the payment are partially taxable. 

 

Please see link below for additional information

 

https://www.irs.gov/faqs/interest-dividends-other-types-of-income/life-insurance-disability-insurance-proceeds/life-insurance-disability-insurance-proceeds-1

Level 2
Jul 31, 2024 1:15:15 PM

Being that I have no employer and am unemployed that answers my question. 
So in conclusion, do I have to file taxes this year at all to simply claim medical disability ss benefits of the $1834 + Snap Benefits + Medicare with Medicaid with Kaiser Permanente?

Expert Alumni
Jul 31, 2024 1:29:53 PM

"I would NOT qualify for any tax credits including my daughter who I am primary care giver with her father declaring her on his taxes though."

There are two types of credits that can be claimed on your tax return for dependents.
 
Refundable credits- can be claimed even if you do not have any taxes to pay.
--Earned income credit requires earned income 
--Additional child tax credit requires you to claim a dependent
--If you have post secondary education expenses, you may be able to claim the refundable portion of the American Opportunity education credit. 
 
Nonrefundable credits-- are used to offset taxes owed. If you don't have any taxes to pay, you would not qualify for non-refundable credits.
 
--Child Tax Credit requires you have tax liability. If you do not have any taxes to pay, this credit does not calculate on the return. 
--Any nonrefundable credit will require tax liability. Some nonrefundable credits do carryover to future years and are used in the year you do have tax liability to pay. Each carryover may have different expiration dates if not used. 
 

Expert Alumni
Jul 31, 2024 1:35:08 PM

There are two types of credits that can be claimed on your tax return for dependents.
 
Refundable credits- can be claimed even if you do not have any taxes to pay.
--Earned income credit requires earned income 
--Additional child tax credit requires you to claim a dependent
--If you have post secondary education expenses, you may be able to claim the refundable portion of the American Opportunity education credit. 
 
Nonrefundable credits-- are used to offset taxes owed. If you don't have any taxes to pay, you would not qualify for non-refundable credits.
 
--Child Tax Credit requires you have tax liability. If you do not have any taxes to pay, this credit does not calculate on the return. 
--Any nonrefundable credit will require tax liability. Some nonrefundable credits do carryover to future years and are used in the year you do have tax liability to pay. Each carryover may have different expiration dates if not used.