Can live-in provider, income exempt from withholding, no W2, file tax return to qualify for tax credits?

Tax-exempt Medicaid Waiver payments from IHSS may be reported with or without a W-2.  Follow the instructions in this TurboTax Help to correctly report your tax-exempt Medicaid Waiver payments from IHSS.

Tax-exempt Medicaid Waiver payments from IHSS may be reported as earned income to satisfy the Earned Income Tax Credit.  See @DianeW777 here who explains the process.