Determining Support

[Tax Sleuth]

A check each month goes directly to a taxpayer's daughter from the taxpayer's Social Security income and is used to support her. Would this money be counted as part of the parent's contribution towards providing over half of his child's support?

[ddoshan]

A check each month goes directly to a taxpayer's daughter from the taxpayer's Social Security income and is used to support her. Would this money be counted as part of the parent's contribution towards providing over half of his child's support?

If the child is receiving Social Security it is considered support provided by the child not the parents. Assuming all is spent and not put in Savings or whatever. Often some children receive 8-9 thousand or more in SS benefits. At least in our area it is often hard for the parents to show that the child did not provide over half of their own support.