I was in a bad accident so I've been on SSI and SSDI and I get Social Security for my 15 yr old daughter cuz her dad is disabled I don't know what to do havent had 2 file

[alyssa122705]

I haven't had the file in the past 3 years but the irs's telling everybody to file this year I started it it's saying that I would qualify for Widow benefits because my husband passed away January 2019 and it's within the past 3 years but I don't know what to file I didn't get anything from Social Security and none of my social security is taxable what do I do I only have a few days until the deadline

[xmasbaby0]

If you are getting Social Security and SSI as your only income then you do not have to file a tax return unless you have not received the stimulus checks---but those should have been sent to you automatically since you are on SS.    There is no "widow benefit" that you will get from the IRS by filing a tax return----that must be a misunderstanding.    If you should be getting a different amount from Social Security because your spouse passed away you need to sort that out with Social Security.

If you are filing a tax return because you are seeking stimulus money use the recovery rebate credit in the Federal Review section.

The stimulus check is an advance on a credit you can receive on your 2020 tax return.  If something went wrong or you did not get the stimulus check in 2020, you can get it when you file your 2020 return in early 2021

The Recovery Rebate Credit will be found in the FEDERAL REVIEW section. ( you should see "Let's make sure you got the right stimulus amount”)  If you are eligible it will end up on line 30 of your 2020 Form 1040.

Make sure that you enter ALL of the stimulus money received for the 1st and 2nd stimulus for yourself, your spouse and your children.

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/economic-impact-payment-information-center-topic-j-reconciling-on-your-...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901539-how-do-i-preview-my-turbotax-online-return-before-filing

Click on Tax Tools on the left side of the screen. Click on Tools. Click on View Tax Summary. Click on Preview my 1040 on the left side of the screen.

[xmasbaby0]

I think what may have you thinking there is some benefit to filing as a widow is that for the two years following the death of a spouse you can file as a qualified widow if you have a dependent child--which you do have.   Then you get the same standard deduction as a married couple so that less of your income is taxable.   But if you are only receiving Social Security it is already not taxable----so filing a tax return as a qualified widow would not benefit you.  Sorry.

[alyssa122705]

Why are they telling everybody even non-filers even people on Social Security to file a tax return if you have a dependent they're talking about plus up payments where I might qualify for $250 a month from July to December and then claim the rest on 2022 tax return how do I know if I qualify for the plus up payments? Know when I started doing the TurboTax and it asks if your single or whatever I hit widowed and then it said when did your husband pass away what year I put January 2019 and it said that I would qualify for widow's benefits because it's within the past 3 years I don't know that's just what it was saying when I first started to do the TurboTax I don't know what to do I didn't even get anything from Social Security and I talked to somebody that I know that's on Social Security and they said that they get something sent to them at the end of every year on how much income they got from Social Security so that way you can claim your child with it I just got primary custody back of my daughter last year so I had her all of last year so I'm able to claim her she's 15 I just don't know what to claim because my income wasn't texting pool I'm lost with this whole thing

[xmasbaby0]

Yes---I can tell that you are confused.    If you did not receive stimulus money for the child you claimed on your 2020 tax return you can still get that --- she should have been claimed on your 2020 tax return.   Did you file a 2020 return yet?   If you did not file and claim her as a dependent then make sure that she is listed as a dependent on your 2020 return and use the recovery rebate credit---as already explained to you.

As for anything to do with Social Security----we have nothing to do with Social Security here.   Your questions about Social Security benefits can only be answered by the Social Security office.

Your friend who gets a yearly refund might be having tax withheld from her Social Security---or maybe she has other income from which tax is being withheld---that is the only way she would be getting a tax refund.

And you  are asking about the expanded child tax credit.   Please click these links:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-topics/help/how-will-the-stimulus-package-impact-me/01/1393859...

https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021