If I am on disability, have one dependent to claim this year, have a mortgage on my home, and do not have any other income should I file a return?

[b_hoopes]

My son also receives supplemental disability income. He is 10 years old.

[DawnC · Accepted solution]

If you don't have any earned income, it does not behoove you to file a tax return.  Generally, all of the refundable credits, with or without a dependent, require some earned income to qualify. 

Benefits such as Social Security Disability Insurance, SSI, or military disability pensions are not considered earned income and cannot be used to claim the EITC. You may qualify for the credit only if you, or your spouse if filing a joint return, have other earned income.

IRS considers disability retirement benefits as earned income until you reach minimum retirement age. The minimum retirement age is the earliest age you could have received a pension or annuity if you did not have a disability.  If this is your disability situation, you would probably be eligible for credits with a dependent and should file.  

You can disregard your son's income.  

[b_hoopes]

I was a little confused at the last part of the answer.   I am only 47 years old, so am not eligible for retirement yet.  So does that mean I need to file taxes until I am old enough for my benefits to transfer to a retirement state instead of a disability payment? 

[b_hoopes]

I have family insisting that I should qualify for a homestead refund and want to put the question to rest.  Thank you for any advise you can give me in this matter.

[GiseleD]

Things like homestead refunds are done at the state level. Which state are you in?

Also, you can still prepare your return on TurboTax to determine if you really need/should file. Even if your situation puts you in a package where you have to pay TurboTax to file, you still don't have to actually pay until you are ready to file. This will allow you to run the numbers and see if you 1) have a filing requirement, and 2) will receive a homestead refund even with no filing requirement. 

@b_hoopes