How to file taxes for a senior citizen 74 years old

[jackkgan]

Hi there,

I am trying to help a friend who is 74 years old and only receives SSI. I heard that she needs to still file her taxes in order to be eligible for Obama medical care even though her only income for past 9 years so far has been only SSI which she suspects may probably discontinue (along with her medicare) shortly due to some new asks from SSA that she is unable to address. Appreciate your help on how to go about, where to start with her taxes (any links, etc.) and any pointers. Thank you.

[DoninGA]

SSI is Supplemental Security Income and is not from the Social Security Administration. It is designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people, who have little or no income; and. It provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter. SSI is not reported on a tax return.

If she is receiving Medicare she is not eligible for or needs Obamacare.

[macuser_22]

SSI does not go on  a tax return at all.    If SSI is the only income then no tax return is required, but you can mail a zero income tax return if you want to.

I have never heard of a tax return requirement for the ACA, but if she is on Medicare she is not eligible for ACA at all.

If you want to file a zero income tax return then download a blank 1040 form from the IRS and mail it in.

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf

[xmasbaby0]

First of all--it is too late to prepare a 2019 tax return online now.  The online software for a 2019 return is shut down and is in transition for 2020 returns which will be filed in 2021.

Secondly--does your friend have SSI or Social Security Disability?  Those are commonly confused and are not the same thing.  If she receives SSI it does not get reported on any tax return.  If she receives Social Security, she gets a SSA1099 every January, but if the Social Security is her ONLY income she does not need to file a tax return.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS AND SSI?

https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-over-ussi.htm

So you are trying to find out what will happen if she loses the SSI or Social Security--whichever the case may be?  She believes if she loses that income she will also lose Medicare?  

This sounds more like an issue to discuss with Social Security than with an income tax forum.

I can tell you that it is possible for a person who is getting Social Security benefits to have Obamacare (marketplace) health insurance---and if they do then they are required to file a tax return even if SS is their only income.  But usually those are people who are still under 65 who do not yet qualify for Medicare.  YOu say she is 74.

But she needs to sort out her Social Security/SSI situation first.

[jackkgan]

Hi DoninGA, thank you so much. Yes, you are right, she is receiving a small amount of Supplemental Security Income (based on her low income) and that seems to be from SSA. SSA said her medicare is also being covered so far from Social Security benefits. But there is a possibility that her medicare may also get canceled due to some issues with SSA. So then, we heard that her next option to get medical coverage may be Obama care and that we may need to file a zero income return or something like that to qualify.

Would you kindly share the process on how to file the zero income tax return for her? Is there a link that she can  file online or there a particular from she has to print, sign and send ? Also, is it ok that this has passed the tax deadline?

[macuser_22]

I posted a link to the form that must be signed and mailed.

[jackkgan]

Thank you all very much! Sorry, I hadn't read the remaining responses before responding to the first response from DoninGA. I gather from all of your responses she will have to  ile https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf  with zero tax.  She is trying to sort this out with SSA regarding her SSI (Social Security Income) and medicare coverage, and if that doesn't work and her medicare gets discontinued, she will apply for Obama care. Than you all so much again! Super helpful.

[VolvoGirl]

If she gets Social Security or SS Disability and NOT ssi then she should have a SSA-1099 from Social Security to report on a tax return.  It looks like

[Critter-3]

If she did not have Obamacare in 2019 then she has no reason to file a 2019 return.  And if she doesn't have Obamacare in 2020 then she also doesn't need to file a 2020 return.   If she loses the medicaid/medicare and wants to apply for Obamacare in the future then there is no requirement to file a return to qualify at all.  

[jackkgan]

Oh is that right? Thanks a lot Critter-3... I had assumed that she had to file taxes with zero income in order to qualify for Obama care. I am glad I was wrong.

[Critter-3]

Once she HAS Obamacare THEN she would be required to file a return even if she has no TAXABLE income.

[jackkgan]

Thank you!