Sometimes we’re so busy growing up that we forget they’re growing old.
Everyone knows that claiming a dependent on your income tax return can get you a significantly larger refund. For every dependent you claim on your taxes you can claim an extra personal exemption. That’s a large chunk of change you can deduct from your income, thus reducing your tax burden.
But who exactly can you claim? Are you eligible to claim your parents as dependents?
When it comes to taxes there are actually two different types of dependents: qualifying children and qualifying relatives.
Obviously, you can’t claim your parents as qualifying children. So the question becomes, do they meet the requirements for qualifying relatives?
Is your parent a qualifying relative for tax purposes?
In order to claim someone as a qualifying relative they must:
- Have lived with you all year as a member of your household, or be one of the following family members: child, parent, sibling, stepparent, stepchild, step-sibling, half sibling, grandparent, grandchild, child-in-law, parent-in-law, sibling-in-law, uncle, aunt, niece, or nephew
- Be a U.S. citizen or resident, or a resident of Canada or Mexico
- Be unmarried, or married but not filing a joint return
- Not be a qualifying child of you or someone else
- Have a gross income of less than $4,000
- Have more than half of their total support for the year provided by you
In plain English, this means that yes you can claim a parent as a dependent but they have to meet the above requirements.
Are Social Security Benefits included?
As a general rule, Social Security benefits are not included in gross income. For more information about Social Security and Disability benefits, check out our other article, “Claiming Parents as Dependents If They Receive Social Security Benefits“. Be sure to make sure they are tax-exempt, because this could determine your eligibility to claim them as a dependent.
When determining if you provided over 50% of a parent’s total support, be sure to consider
- lodging
- food expenses
- utilities
- repairs
- household expenses
- clothing
- education
- medical and dental expenses
- travel
- recreation expenses
If you support a parent who meets all of the requirements listed above be sure to claim them when you file online this season!
My Father is 53 years old and is permanently disabled. he receives about $1800 in disability each month. he does live with me and I pay for his groceries, lodging, clothes, etc.. he does qualify as a qualifying dependent. my question is this, if I claim him as a dependent will he lose some of his disability benefits?
Hi Justin,
No, he will not. You can claim him and his benefits will not change.
my mother lives with me and does not have an income and i am paying for our expenses, but she does have a large amount in savings, can i still claim her as a dependent.
Hi Sheena,
Yes. As long as you meet the following requirements you can claim your mother as a qualifying relative dependent:
1. Your mother earns less than $3,900 for the year.
2. You provide more than half of her total support during the year.
3. If your mother is married, the dependent cannot file a joint return with her spouse.
4. Your mother must be a citizen or resident alien of the United States, Canada, or Mexico.
I wanted to claim my parents how much tax money do I get back and each person
Hi Nick,
As long as they each meet the qualifying relative test, you can claim an exemption of $3900, for each person.
I was wondering if I claim my mother will it effect her ssi, as in will it decrease?
Hi Shana,
No, it will not decrease her SSI.
My mother lives with me but I provide 100% of her support she does receive SSI in the amount of $704 my question is this how do I report that money on my tax form
Social security income is non-taxable. You can claim your mother as a qualifying relative if:
1. Your mom earned less than $3,900 for the tax year.
2. You provided more than half of your mom’s total support during the year.
3. You mom is not filing a joint return.
4. Your mom is citizen or resident alien of the United States, Canada, or Mexico.
I like to know can I claim my mother on my income tax all she gets is less than 6000 year on SSI disability and I provide a home forher
Hi James,
You’re still able to claim your mother if she is claiming Social Security disability. Keep in mind that you must meet the other requirements as well in order to claim her. Take a look at another article of ours, “Claiming Parents as Dependents If They Receive Social Security Benefits” to make sure that you do.