Son & girlfriend had a baby. Girlfriend on pregnancy Medicaid. It rolled to the baby when born. Can my son claim the BABY as a dependent this year if baby's on Medicaid?

[Carl]

The mother gets first dibs. Does the mother have any taxable income in 2017?

[SweetieJean]

If you are asking if Medicaid would be affected if he does so, only Medicaid can answer that

[SweetieJean]

And with with whom does baby live?

[wandastamp]

The baby and girlfriend live with the father.  I am not asking if Medicaid would be affected.  I am asking if the father can claim the child on taxes even the child is on Medicaid.

[wandastamp]

The mother has no income.  The father is supporting them both.  The child is newborn on Medicaid simply because it rolled from pregnancy Medicaid to the child.  If Medicaid is used, rolling from the mother to the child, can the father still claim the child on HIS taxes?

[SweetieJean]

"The father":  as in your son, or as in the baby's grandfather?

[wandastamp]

The father of the baby.

[rjs · Accepted solution]

If your son, his girlfriend, and their baby all lived together since the baby was born, then either your son or his girlfriend can claim the baby as a dependent, but not both. They can agree between them which one of them will claim the baby. The baby being on Medicaid does not prevent either parent from claiming the baby as a dependent.