Can a recepient of a welfare and/or ssi be claimed on a tax return?

Question

My co-volunteer wants to know whether or not we can claim people who are on welfare assistance and/or SSI on his personal income tax return? Please give me a little detail.

Thanks,

Answer 1

Yes they can as long as the recipient can be claimed as a dependent. For one to be on welfare, it would be almost impossible unless the person is making very little money. Otherwise they would be held accountable for the persons welfare and not be on welfare. If it is SSI however, the person can more easily claim them, since the SSI is very little money to live on, and that person doesn't have to claim income of others in the household. They only have to claim what cash is given to them from others. You do need to be paying over 50% of that persons income on their welfare to claim them too. You can consider half the rent, half the food bill, half of the untilities, clothing, and travel expenses to and from the Drs. as part of their share. Remember though, that can be used from their checks, so you have to come up with the amount of their checks, plus half or more of that in order to claim them. Also a dependent is defined as a child, a mother or father, or a grandparent, adopted child, or grandchildren, or step grandchildren. Even if they aren't related to you, they have to have lived with you the entire year.

Answer 2

First off, in order to claim the person as a dependent on his return, he would need to provide at least 50% of the individual's support for the year. This is in addition to the other requirements to claim the individual as a dependent. While the support issue may not necessarily affect the SSI payments, I believe that it would affect their welfare payments.

Answer 3

If the person otherwise qualifies as a dependent. They still need to meet the residence, support, legal relationship, and gross income tests.

Answer 4

Are they a dependent on you?