How come I am only getting $1,000 for a 16 year old and an 18 year old step grandchildren that were those ages when they lived with me august 2017 to June 2018?

[marlowandy]

My husband's two grandchildren lived with me August 2017 to June 2018. They were both full time students. I paid for their support. My husband lived in another state. According to the dependent description I should be getting up to $2,000 for the 16 yr old and $500 for the 18 yr old. I am only getting $1,000.

[DanielV01 · Accepted solution]

You can only get a $2000 Child tax credit if the dependent lived with you at least 6 months and 1 day in the tax year (2018 calendar year).  Although in total the children lived with you longer, for 2018 it was less than 6 months and so the Child Tax Credit cannot be claimed for the 16-year-old.

Keep in mind, too, that if someone else did live with them for longer than 6 months, and can claim the children on their return as qualifying children, you actually won't be able to claim them at all.  Because you lived with them for less than 6 months, you may only claim them as qualifying relatives, if no one else can claim them.

[marlowandy]

Thank you for your time in responding, very helpful!

[DanielV01]

You are welcome.