Does a person who is getting social security/disability have to file taxes?

[RBBrittain]

Maybe, maybe not; fill out IRS Notice 703 on the back of your SSA-1099 to see if you need to file. In most cases, if it's your only income you do NOT have to file. However, if you received a lump-sum SSDI payment in 2016 you may have received enough SSDI alone to file, though you may still be able to avoid tax by applying the prior-year part of SSDI to prior years, claiming an itemized deduction for attorney's fees, etc.

If you received SSI (Supplemental Security Income) instead of SSDI (ordinary Social Security disability), SSI is not taxable at all; you would not have received a SSA-1099 for that.

[rtylerlee]

I'm disabled for life so what am I receiving?  SSI or SSDI
 

[VolvoGirl]

@rtylerlee only you would know which one you get.  If you get a SSA-1099 at the end of the year it is for SSDI or SS.  You don't get a form for ssi.  Ask Social Security if you don't know what you get.