Will claiming a disabled child on my taxes affect their Social Security Disability?

[tbest33709]

There is a child who I currently care for that receives social security disability payments. These payments do exceed the $4,200 threshold which I understand disqualifies the child from being claimed as a dependent on my taxes. However, I nor anyone else received the March 2021 stimulus payments for this child. 

I am concerned that, if I filed having this child on my taxes so I can claim the stimulus credit may affect their SSD. Can anyone tell me if doing so can have any bearing or effect on their SSD payments or any of the benefits received by her under it?

[xmasbaby0]

No----the Social Security the child receives does not affect your tax return.   You do not enter it anywhere on your tax return, nor does it affect your ability to claim the child as a dependent.   You do not count Social Security when you are determining if someone can be claimed as a dependent.    And the Social Security should have no effect on getting the recovery rebate credit for claiming him as a dependent.

The child does not have to file a tax return that reports the Social Security unless someday he has other income like from an after school job, etc. and files a tax return....at that time the SSA1099 would be included on his tax return.

IRS interview to help determine who can be claimed:

https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/who-can-i-claim-as-a-dependent

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/3113432-who-can-i-claim-as-my-dependent  

[tbest33709]

@xmasbaby0 I guess my bigger question is, if I did claim her, would my doing so have any potential effect on her disability? As in, would my claiming her show to Social Security that she is being supported by someone else and cause them to decide to not offer her disability benefits anymore

[TeresaM]

No, your child's right to Supplemental Security Income, SSI, will not be impacted if you claim them as a dependent on your return. Neither will their right to Medicaid.

Xmasbaby0, above, is correct, your child's SSI benefits should not be reported on your return and if that is their only income, they do not need to file as the IRS will already have that information from the Social Security Administration.

You child may also be a qualifying person for you to claim the Earned Income Credit and if you are a single parent, may qualify you to claim Head of Household.

This is an IRS list of resources for tax benefits and credits for those living with disabilities. Not everything there will apply to your family but it may point you to additional information that will be helpful. IRS Living and Working with Disabilities