Probably.
A person can still be a Qualifying
relative dependent, if not a Qualifying Child, if he meets the 6 tests for
claiming a dependent:
1. Closely Related OR live
with the taxpayer ALL year
2. His/her gross taxable income for the year must be less than $4,050 (2016)
3. The taxpayer must have
provided more than 1/2 his support
In either case:
4. He must be a US citizen or resident of the US, Canada
or Mexico
5. He must not file a joint
return with his spouse or be claiming a dependent of his own
6. He must not be the
qualifying child of another taxpayer
Social security and food stamps don't count
as income, for the income test, but social security & welfare money he/she spends on her
self does count as support not provided by you, for the support test. Money she
puts into savings & investment does not count as support she spent on
herself. Note that a parent and grandparent are closely related so there is no requirement that
she live with you at any time, during the year. But if you provided a home it
helps your support case, unless they own the home you live in. If no one person
(or married couple) provides 50% of the support (for example your siblings are
also sending support), then a "multiple support agreement” (IRS Form 2120)
can be used, to allow you to claim the dependent.
The IRS has a worksheet that
can be used to help with the support calculation. See: http://apps.irs.gov/app/vita/content/globalmedia/teacher/worksheet_for_determining_support_4012.pdf The support
value of a home is the fair market rental value, divided by the number of
occupants.
