Can you claim a dependent on taxes if your only source of income for the entire year has been unemployment?

[VolvoGirl]

Yes.  You still need to claim all your dependents and deductions on your return.  

[Bsch4477]

Your source of income is not relevant to your eligibility to claim a dependent. But without earned income you will not receive earned income credit. 

[ee-ea]

If you meet the rules for claiming a dependent it does not matter what the source of your income was.

[Critter-3]

But wait there's more ... just in and for just the 2020 return ...

When you get to the EIC entry section ...   you have the OPTION to use the prior year earned income to get a bigger refund ... READ the screen carefully to decide if this is something you want to do ... if you don't get a bigger refund you can undo your choice.  It is an OPTION not a REQUIREMENT  and  since returns that have EIC in them will not start processing until mid to late February  you have the time to make this educated decision.