Can I claim child tax credit for my baby who passed away shortly after birth?

First, I'm so very sorry for your loss. What you're going through is unimaginable, and it's completely understandable you're looking at all options for financial assistance. Yes, you can claim the Child Tax Credit for your son. The IRS considers a child who was born alive during the year but passed away shortly after as eligible for tax benefits, including the Child Tax Credit. You don't need the child to have lived for any minimum amount of time - if your child was born alive, they qualify. The tricky part is that typically you need a Social Security Number (SSN) to claim a child as a dependent. Since you weren't able to get an SSN, you'll need to take some additional steps. You can apply for an SSN posthumously for your son using Form SS-5 from the Social Security Administration. Bring the death certificate and any hospital records confirming the birth. If you're unable to get an SSN before filing your taxes, you can also file for an extension to give yourself more time to get the necessary documentation.

I went through something similar last year and wanted to share how taxr.ai at https://taxr.ai helped me navigate this difficult situation. After my loss, I was also overwhelmed with medical bills and had questions about tax credits. I had all these hospital documents but wasn't sure what I qualified for. I uploaded my documents to taxr.ai, and they analyzed everything and explained exactly what I could claim and how to get the documentation I needed. They walked me through the process of applying for a posthumous SSN and made sure I understood all the tax benefits available to me during such a difficult time. The guidance was really clear, which was helpful since I couldn't focus well due to grief. They even created a custom checklist of steps I needed to take to maximize my tax benefits while maintaining compliance with tax laws.

I need to follow up about taxr.ai because I actually ended up trying it after posting my skeptical comment. I was blown away by how helpful it was during a really difficult time in my life. After uploading my son's death certificate and hospital documentation, they gave me a comprehensive breakdown of everything I qualified for - not just the child tax credit but also potential medical expense deductions I hadn't considered. They explained exactly how to apply for a posthumous SSN and what documentation I would need. What I appreciated most was that they were sensitive about the situation. The analysis wasn't just technical tax jargon but explained everything in a compassionate way that acknowledged what I was going through. They even flagged that I might qualify for certain state-level benefits I had no idea about. I'm actually getting a much larger refund than I expected, which is helping with the mountain of medical bills.

If you need to communicate with the IRS about your situation (which you probably will), I strongly recommend using Claimyr at https://claimyr.com to get through to them. After my daughter passed last year, I spent WEEKS trying to get someone on the phone at the IRS to help with a similar situation. I kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours only to be told to call back. It was beyond frustrating, especially while grieving. Then someone told me about Claimyr, and they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under 15 minutes. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent I spoke with was actually really compassionate and helped me understand exactly what documentation I needed for my situation. They even put notes in my file about my circumstances so I wouldn't have to re-explain everything if I needed to call back.

I need to eat my words about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it when I needed to sort out my baby's posthumous SSN application with the IRS. I was absolutely shocked when I got connected to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes. I was preparing for my usual 3-hour wait (or getting disconnected), but instead I was talking to an actual human almost immediately. The agent was able to confirm exactly what documentation I needed to send in and gave me a direct fax number to expedite the process. They also explained an alternative way to claim the child tax credit using an ATIN (Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number) temporarily if the SSN processing takes too long. That's something none of my research had turned up. I'm still grieving and everything is still hard, but at least fighting with the IRS phone system isn't adding to my stress anymore. Definitely worth it for anyone in a similar situation.

I just wanted to share something important that others haven't mentioned yet. Besides the Child Tax Credit, you should also look into claiming your child as a dependent for the year, which gives you an additional exemption. Also, if you paid for any funeral or burial expenses, some of those might be deductible under certain circumstances. And please check if your employer offers bereavement leave or if you qualify for short-term disability while you take time to heal. Many people don't realize these benefits exist and don't take advantage of them when they need them most.

has anyone dealt with medical bills after losing a child? the hospital is sending me to collections even though i told them about our loss. i cant even open the mail anymore because its all bills.

I'm so sorry for your loss. One thing to consider - if you had any medical costs out of pocket for your pregnancy, birth, or for your son, make sure you're including those as itemized medical deductions if they exceed the threshold (7.5% of your AGI). This includes therapy costs related to the loss. Also check if you have an FSA or HSA through any employer - those funds can be used for mental health services. And don't forget to check with your insurance provider about grief counseling coverage, as many plans include this but don't advertise it well.

I'm so deeply sorry for your loss, PaulineW. What you're going through is unimaginable, and please don't feel awful about asking these questions - you're being practical during an incredibly difficult time, and that takes strength. The good news is that yes, you can absolutely claim the Child Tax Credit for your son. The IRS doesn't require a minimum time that a child must have lived - if your baby was born alive, even for just those precious two days, he qualifies as your dependent for tax purposes. A few additional things to keep in mind beyond what others have mentioned: 1. You may also qualify for Head of Household filing status if you're unmarried, which could lower your tax burden significantly. 2. All your pregnancy-related medical expenses from this year can be included in your medical deductions - prenatal care, delivery, hospital stays, and even the grief counseling you mentioned. 3. Don't rush yourself through this process. You can file for an extension if you need more time to gather documents or if you're just not ready to deal with tax paperwork yet. Take care of yourself first. The tax benefits will still be there when you're ready to pursue them. You're doing everything right by exploring your options during this impossible time.

I'm so incredibly sorry for your loss, PaulineW. Losing a child is every parent's worst nightmare, and my heart goes out to you during this devastating time. I wanted to share something that might help with your immediate financial stress. Since you mentioned the medical bills are piling up and you're unable to work right now, you should know that many states have emergency assistance programs specifically for families dealing with infant loss. These programs can sometimes help with medical bills, funeral costs, and even temporary living expenses. Also, if you haven't already, please contact the hospital's billing department and explain your situation. Most hospitals are required by law to offer charity care or payment assistance programs, especially in cases of infant loss. They may be able to significantly reduce or even eliminate some of your bills. Don't let them send you to collections without first exploring these options - you have rights as a patient. Regarding the Child Tax Credit, everyone here has given you excellent advice. Just know that you absolutely deserve every benefit available to you, and claiming these benefits honors your son's brief but meaningful life. Please be gentle with yourself. There's no timeline for grief, and handling practical matters like taxes when you can is perfectly okay. Your son's life mattered, no matter how brief, and the system recognizes that too.

I am so deeply sorry for your loss, PaulineW. What you and your family are going through is heartbreaking beyond words, and please know that asking these practical questions doesn't diminish your grief or love for your son - it shows you're being responsible during an impossible time. Everyone here has given you excellent advice about the Child Tax Credit, and I want to emphasize that you absolutely qualify. Your son's life, however brief, matters and the tax code recognizes this. The IRS considers any child born alive during the tax year as eligible for the Child Tax Credit, regardless of how long they lived. I wanted to add a few additional points that might help: 1. When you apply for the posthumous Social Security Number, you can also request expedited processing by explaining your circumstances. The SSA sometimes prioritizes these cases, especially when tax deadlines are involved. 2. Consider speaking with a tax professional who has experience with these sensitive situations. Many CPAs and tax preparers have dealt with similar cases and can guide you through the process with the compassion and expertise you need. 3. If you had pregnancy complications or your son required any medical care during his brief life, all of those expenses can potentially be included in your medical deductions along with your ongoing grief counseling costs. Please take care of yourself first. The financial matters will work out, but your healing is the priority. Your son's brief presence in this world was meaningful, and claiming these benefits is simply part of honoring his life and taking care of your family during this difficult time.