Can I still get the child tax credit if I had zero income in 2023 as a disabled parent?

Yes, you can potentially still claim the Child Tax Credit even with zero income! The Child Tax Credit doesn't require earned income to qualify. You should absolutely file a tax return even with no income to claim this benefit for your child. For 2023, the Child Tax Credit is worth up to $2,000 per qualifying child under 17, and up to $1,500 of that can be refundable (meaning you can get it even without owing taxes). This refundable portion is called the Additional Child Tax Credit. The key here is that you need to file a tax return to claim it. Use Form 1040 and complete Schedule 8812. Even with zero income, you're eligible to receive the refundable portion as long as your child meets the qualifying criteria (related to you, lived with you more than half the year, has a valid SSN, etc.).

I was in almost your exact situation last year! I found this amazing tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that totally saved me when I was confused about filing with zero income. I uploaded my info and it immediately showed me that I could still get the Child Tax Credit even though I hadn't worked. What's great is it automatically figured out all the forms I needed - turns out you still file a regular return but with special schedules for the child credit. The system checked all the requirements for me and confirmed my child qualified. It was such a relief because I was also thinking I couldn't get anything without income!

Came back to update after trying taxr.ai from my earlier question. I was really skeptical but decided to give it a shot for my cousin who's disabled with two kids and no income last year. The service immediately identified that she qualified for $3,000 in refundable Child Tax Credits ($1,500 per child)! It guided us through filing a return even with zero income, which I didn't realize was possible. The step-by-step process made it super easy - it automatically completed Schedule 8812 and all the required forms. She just received her refund deposit last week! Wish we had known about this earlier since she missed out on previous years' credits thinking she couldn't file without income.

If you're also dealing with the disability application process, I highly recommend Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) for getting through to the SSA faster. I spent MONTHS trying to check on my disability application status and couldn't get anyone on the phone. Used Claimyr and got through to a real person at the disability office in under 20 minutes! You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically they use technology to wait on hold for you, then call you when a real person picks up. Saved me hours of hold time and frustration. The agent I spoke with was able to expedite my application review because of some financial hardship factors. Might help you get your disability approved faster while you're working on the tax credit situation.

I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment earlier, I was desperate enough to try it for my disability status check that's been pending for 9 months. Used the service yesterday morning, and within 22 minutes I was connected to an actual SSA representative! The rep not only gave me my application status but noticed my case had been incorrectly categorized which was causing the delay. She fixed it on the spot and told me to expect a decision within 2-3 weeks instead of the additional 3-4 months it might have taken otherwise. I'm still in shock that it actually worked after spending countless hours trying to get through on my own. Definitely worth it for anyone dealing with the disability application process while also sorting out the tax credit situation.

Just want to add something important - if you're claiming the Child Tax Credit with no income, make sure your child has lived with you for more than half the year (183 days). The IRS is really strict about this requirement, and it's one of the things they check carefully since this credit is frequently claimed incorrectly. Also, your child needs to be under 17 at the end of the tax year to qualify. If they turned 17 during 2023, unfortunately you can't claim the Child Tax Credit for them for that year.

I did this exact thing last year! Filed with zero income as a disabled parent and still got $1,500 for my daughter through the Additional Child Tax Credit. Used the free version of TaxAct to file. Just make sure to complete Schedule 8812 along with your 1040 - that's where you calculate the refundable portion. One thing nobody mentioned yet - your qualifying child must also not provide more than half of their own support. Shouldn't be an issue for young kids, but something to keep in mind if you have an older teen who might have had some income of their own.