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Srnsrnx2
New Member

I am receiving ssdi benefits and working part time, can i claim my children

 
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2 Replies
Hal_Al
Level 15

I am receiving ssdi benefits and working part time, can i claim my children

It depends on how much income you have from the part time work.. SSDI income is usually not taxable. But even if some of it becomes taxable, it is not "earned income".  Social security (including SSDI) only becomes taxable when added to sufficient other income. If you are otherwise required to file a tax return, you do need to enter it in Turbotax (TT). TT will determine the taxable portion.

 

The money you hear about people getting for just filing a tax return claiming kids requires them to  have some earned income (wages or self employment). Without earned income, they are not eligible for the "refundable" Earned Income Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit.  Both credits are calculated on the amount of earned income you have. No earned income means no "refund". A small amount of earned income means a small refund. The child tax credit does not "kick in" unless you have at least $2500 of earned income.

 

A child can be the “qualifying child” dependent of any close relative in the household. If you live with someone else, e.g. your parents, it may be better if they claim your child.

Instead, you could allow the non-custodial parent to claim the children.  Non-custodial parents are allowed to claim the child tax credit, but not the Earned income credit.

 

If you are a student, over age 23, and are not claimed as a dependent by someone else (e.g. your parent) you may be eligible for the up to $1000 refundable American Opportunity (tuition) Credit. That credit is not dependent on having either kids or earned income. You must be at least a half time undergraduate student and actually paid tuition (not just had it paid by grants). Tuition paid by loans counts as paid by you (since you have to pay that back, someday)

I am receiving ssdi benefits and working part time, can i claim my children

"working part -time...."    

 

If you do have income earned from working then you may qualify for some child-related credits, but they will be based on the amount you earned from working.  And your AGI also includes the Social Security benefits, so any "earned income credit" will take that SSDI into account to calculate your EIC.  As Hal_Al said, the refundable part of the child tax credit requires you to have at least $2500 of income based on working, and then the amount you receive will be 15% of the amount earned above $2500--so it will be a small amount  (if any) if you only worked part-time.

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
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