The issue here is dependency. If you are a qualifying child for them, your would have had to meet all the qualifications. If you supported yourself, or even paid over half of your own support, you are not a qualifying child. A non-dependent that you describe is when divorced or separated parents split the benefits of a child. The custodial parent claims one set of benefits that they are entitled to and the noncustodial parent claims the benefits they are entitled to. None of this applies to you.
Bottom line is, you are not a dependent and they are not eligible for any benefits for a qualifying child.
In general, to be a taxpayer’s
qualifying child, a person must satisfy four tests:
Relationship — the taxpayer’s child or stepchild (whether by
blood or adoption), foster child, sibling or step-sibling, or a descendant of
one of these.
Residence — has the same principal residence as the taxpayer
for more than half the tax year. Exceptions apply, in certain cases, for
children of divorced or separated parents, kidnapped children, temporary
absences, and for children who were born or died during the year.
Age — must be under the age of 19 at the end of the tax
year, or under the age of 24 if a full-time student for at least five months of
the year, or be permanently and totally disabled at any time during the year.
Support —
did not provide more than one-half of his/her own
support for the year.
