Claiming a child that receives social security survivor benefits

[lalberto]

My child receives survivor benefits.  She uses them to cover her living expenses, i.e. housing, food, medical, etc.  I only contribute a small amount.  Can I claim her on my taxes even though she covered most of her own expenses.  She is only 14.

[rjs · Accepted solution]

No, you cannot claim her as a dependent.

There are two types of dependents: a qualifying child and a qualifying relative. One of the requirements to be a qualifying child is that the child must not provide more than half of her own support for the year. One of the requirements to be a qualifying relative is that you must provide more than half of her total support for the year. But you said that she provides more than half of her own support, so she does not meet either requirement.

(There are a number of other requirements that must also be met for someone to be a qualifying child or a qualifying relative. In your case it's not necessary to look at any of the other requirements, because she fails the support test in both cases.)