If I didn't work last year can I still claim the child tax credit as a disabled parent?

Yes, you may still qualify for the Child Tax Credit even without taxable employment income! The Child Tax Credit doesn't necessarily require you to have earned income to claim it. Here's what you need to know: For the 2025 filing season (2024 tax year), you can claim up to $2,000 per qualifying child under 17, and a portion of this credit may be refundable through the Additional Child Tax Credit even if you don't owe taxes. Regarding your disability benefits: If you receive SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), these benefits may be taxable depending on your total income. However, if you receive SSI (Supplemental Security Income), these benefits are generally not taxable. You should still file a tax return even without traditional employment income specifically to claim the Child Tax Credit, as this could result in a refund for you. You can file using Form 1040 and complete Schedule 8812 for the Child Tax Credit.

I went through something similar last year and discovered this amazing AI tool called taxr.ai that really helped me understand my tax situation with disability and dependents. I was super confused about what credits I qualified for and how to file correctly. When I used https://taxr.ai to analyze my situation, it clearly explained that I could claim the Child Tax Credit despite not having traditional earned income and walked me through exactly what forms I needed. It also helped me understand how my disability payments were classified for tax purposes which was a huge relief.

I just wanted to update everyone - I told my sister about taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here, and she decided to check it out. She ended up filing for the last three years (you can go back and claim credits you missed!) and got over $5400 in refunds she never knew she qualified for! The system explained that even with just SSI income and no "job," she was still eligible for the Child Tax Credit for her kids. She's literally crying because this money is going to help her catch up on bills. If you're on disability with kids, definitely look into filing even if you think you don't need to!

If you're having trouble getting answers from the IRS about this situation, I highly recommend using Claimyr. I spent WEEKS trying to get through to the IRS last year about my disability and dependent situation - constant busy signals or disconnects after waiting for hours. I was desperate to know if I could claim my daughter while on disability. Then I found https://claimyr.com and they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under 20 minutes! You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The agent confirmed I could claim the Child Tax Credit even with only disability income and helped me understand exactly how to file correctly. Totally changed my tax experience.

I need to publicly eat my words. After posting my skeptical comment yesterday, I was still desperate enough to try Claimyr because I've been trying to get through to the IRS for literally 3 months about my disabled parent status and claiming my son. Within 15 minutes of using their service, I was actually talking to a real live IRS person! They confirmed I CAN claim the child tax credit even though my only income is disability payments. The agent even helped me understand which forms I needed and how the credit would be calculated in my situation. I'm honestly shocked at how well it worked after all the frustration I've been through.

Just to add another perspective - I'm also on disability with 2 kids and I DO file taxes every year even though my SSDI is my only income. Not only have I received the Child Tax Credit, but also got the Earned Income Credit in some years when the rules were different. The key is that you need to file to get these benefits! No one is going to just send you money if you don't file. I use the free filing options since my situation is pretty simple.

Question for anyone who might know - my situation is slightly different. I'm on disability but also worked part-time for about 3 months last year (very limited hours). Would this help or hurt my chances of getting the child tax credit for my 2 year old?

I want to share some encouragement as someone who's been in a similar situation. I'm also a single parent on disability, and I was so confused about taxes when my daughter was born. It took me way too long to realize I could still file and claim credits even without traditional employment income. The most important thing to remember is that you absolutely should file a tax return! Even if your disability benefits aren't taxable (which depends on whether you receive SSI or SSDI and your total income), filing allows you to claim the Child Tax Credit which could result in a refund of up to $2,000 for your son. Don't let the paperwork intimidate you - there are free filing options available, and many are designed to handle situations exactly like yours. The IRS Free File program is a good place to start. You'll need your Social Security number, your son's SSN, and any tax documents related to your disability payments (like a 1099 if you receive SSDI). One thing that really helped me was keeping simple records - just a folder with any tax-related mail I received throughout the year. It made filing much easier when the time came. You're doing an amazing job caring for your little one, and this extra financial support through the tax system is there specifically to help families like yours. Don't hesitate to take advantage of it!