turbotax icon
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
turbotax icon
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
turbotax icon
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
turbotax icon
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Announcements
Close icon
Do you have a TurboTax Online account?

We'll help you get started or pick up where you left off.

abasdj
New Member

Can I claim my mother as a dependent if she receives medicare/medicaid and SSI?she doesnt have any income at all.

I also live with her and I file as the head of the household
Connect with an expert
x
Do you have an Intuit account?

Do you have an Intuit account?

You'll need to sign in or create an account to connect with an expert.

4 Replies

Can I claim my mother as a dependent if she receives medicare/medicaid and SSI?she doesnt have any income at all.

If she meets all of the general requirements and the requirements to be a qualifying relative, then you can claim her, here are the rules:
- You cannot claim any dependents if you, or your spouse if filing jointly, could be claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer.
- You cannot claim a married person who files a joint return as a dependent unless that joint return is only a claim for refund and there would be no tax liability for either spouse on separate returns.
- You cannot claim a person as a dependent unless that person is a U.S. citizen, U.S. resident alien, U.S. national, or a resident of Canada or Mexico.
- You cannot claim a person as a dependent unless that person is your qualifying child or qualifying relative.

Test to be a Qualifying Child:
1. The child must be your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, brother, sister, half brother, half sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or a descendant of any of them.
2. The child must be (a) under age 19 at the end of the year and younger than you (or your spouse, if filing jointly), (b) under age 24 at the end of the year, a full-time student and younger than you (or your spouse, if filing jointly), (c) any age if permanently and totally disabled.
3. The child must have lived with you for more than half of the year (except for temporary absences such as for school)
4. The child must not have provided more than half of his or her support for the year.
5. The child is not filing a joint return for the year (unless that
return is filed only as a claim for refund).
6. If the child meets the rules to be a qualifying child of more
than one person, you must be the person entitled to claim
the child as a qualifying child.

Test to be a Qualifying Relative:

1. The person cannot be your qualifying child or the qualifying child of any other taxpayer.
2. The person either (a) be related to your in one of the following ways:
Your child, stepchild, foster child, or a descendant of any of them
Your brother, sister, half brother, half sister, stepbrother, or stepsister.
Your father, mother, grandparent, or other direct ancestor, but not foster parent.
Your stepfather or stepmother.
A son or daughter of your brother or sister.
A brother or sister of your father or mother.
Your son-in-law, daughter-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law.
or (b) must live with you all year as a member of your household (and your relationship must not violate local law).
3. The person's gross income for the year must be less than $4,000 (social security does not count).
4. You must provide more than half of the person's total support for the year.

There is a very good worksheet to help you determine how much support you provide. It is on page 15 of IRS Pub. 501
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p501.pdf

Can I claim my mother as a dependent if she receives medicare/medicaid and SSI?she doesnt have any income at all.

You cannot file as Head of Household without a dependent.

Can I claim my mother as a dependent if she receives medicare/medicaid and SSI?she doesnt have any income at all.

You live with her; Where does the money to pay household expenses come from? See Pub 501 (above link by Jerry2000) for encompassing answers. NB p.16, worksheet for determining support ..
Hal_Al
Level 15

Can I claim my mother as a dependent if she receives medicare/medicaid and SSI?she doesnt have any income at all.

When calculating whether you provide more than half her support, the support value of a home is the fair market rental value, divided by the number of occupants.
message box icon

Get more help

Ask questions and learn more about your taxes and finances.

Post your Question
Manage cookies