Question

If my adult child receives food stamps, will I still be able to claim her as an adult child dependent?

Answer

Maybe. The food stamps do not automatically disqualify your adult child from being claimed as your dependent. But they may affect the support test. A person can be your dependent as either a qualifying child or a qualifying relative. As a qualifying child, that person cannot provide more than half of her own support. Food stamps are considered support provided by a third party, and would generally help your case for claiming her as a dependent because it reduces the % of support provided by the child. As a qualifying relative, you must provide more than half the child’s support. The food stamps, which are support provided by a third party, would reduce your % of support, and could make your support go below half. If you still meet the support test, and your adult child meets all the other requirements

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