I want to claim my younger brother as my dependent however, he receives Medicaid and Food Stamps assistance. Will this affect his eligibility?

[LindaS5247]

Yes, in order to claim your brother as your dependent, certain requirements must be met. You must provide more than half of his support to claim him as your dependent.

These requirements are as follows:

1. They must be your, an adopted child or foster child, a brother or sister or a descendant of one of these.
2. They lived with you more than half of the year (these exceptions apply).
3. They are under the age of 19 (unless they are a full-time student. In that case it is age 24. They can be any age if totally and permanently disabled.
4. You must have provided more than half of their support
5. The child does not file a joint return with anyone else (unless to claim a refund of taxes paid or withheld).

Click here for additional information regarding dependents.

Click here for additional  information on who you can claim as a dependent.

Click here for additional information on how to claim a dependent.

[darleneayala101]

I appreciate your response. He would meet all these requirements, however, I’m wondering if his benefits will be effected if I were to claim him? He gets Foodstamps, Social Security and Medicaid from the government. 

[LindaS5247]

You would have to ask the agency that provides the Medicaid, Social Security and food stamps benefits to determine that. They likely have some specific income calculations that they use for each program.

In general, it shouldn't  affect their eligibility for Medicaid or food stamps, as their benefits are typically based on their own income and resources, but it is important to ask those agencies to be sure.

Click here for additional information on Form 1095-C.

Click here for additional information on Forms 1095-C and 1095-B.