Overview of Tax Credits for People With Disabilities
Tax credits are money that reduces the amount of income tax you owe to the federal government. Unlike tax deductions, which lower your income before taxes are calculated, tax credits subtract directly from your tax bill. For someone who owes $2,000 in taxes, a $500 credit means they only owe $1,500. This makes credits particularly valuable for people with disabilities, as several programs exist specifically to help offset work-related expenses or support caregiving situations.
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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) administers multiple tax credits that individuals with disabilities may consider when filing annual tax returns. These credits fall into different categories based on what expenses they cover. Some credits relate to employment and work-related costs. Others address dependent care expenses. Still others recognize tax situations unique to people with certain disabilities. Understanding which credits might apply to your situation requires knowing what each one covers and what conditions must be met.
Tax credits differ significantly from government benefits programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). While those programs provide ongoing monthly payments based on disability status and income limits, tax credits are claimed once per year when filing taxes. You report information about the previous year's income and expenses. The credit then reduces what you owe or increases any refund you might receive.
This guide covers the main federal tax credits that people with disabilities commonly consider. It explains how each credit works, what types of expenses or situations it addresses, and general information about how to report it on tax forms. The information presented reflects IRS rules as of 2024. Tax law can change, and individual situations vary greatly, so reviewing current IRS publications or speaking with a tax professional about your specific circumstances remains important.
Practical Takeaway: Begin by understanding that tax credits reduce what you owe in taxes, making them different from other disability benefits. Knowing which credits might apply to your situation is the first step toward potentially lowering your annual tax bill.
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
The Earned Income Tax Credit is one of the largest federal tax credits available, benefiting millions of working people with low to moderate incomes. In 2023, approximately 30 million households claimed the EITC, receiving an average refund of around $2,500. For people with disabilities who work, this credit may significantly reduce tax liability or increase a tax refund. The amount of the credit depends on your earned income, filing status, and number of qualifying dependents.
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To receive the EITC, you must have worked and earned income during the tax year. Self-employment income, wages from a job, and certain other earnings count as qualifying income. However, investment income—such as interest from savings accounts or dividends from stocks—does not count toward EITC calculations. This distinction matters because some people with disabilities receive investment income from trusts or settlements, and that income won't affect their EITC eligibility based on earnings.
The credit structure includes different income thresholds based on your filing status and number of dependents. A single person with no dependents may receive an EITC of up to $600 if earnings fall within the qualifying range. A married couple filing jointly with three or more qualifying children could receive up to $3,995. The credit gradually increases as income rises to a maximum, then gradually decreases as income continues to climb. Maximum credits apply when earnings fall in a middle range; beyond that range, the credit phases out.
People receiving SSDI benefits often wonder whether those payments affect EITC eligibility. SSDI payments themselves do not count as earned income, so receiving SSDI does not reduce your EITC. However, if you also work and earn wages, those wages do count. Many people with disabilities combine part-time work earnings with SSDI, and the EITC can help offset taxes on those work earnings. Some may even receive a refund larger than taxes withheld, meaning the IRS sends them money.
Claiming the EITC requires reporting it on your tax return. Many people work with tax preparation services or file electronically through software. Some community organizations offer free tax filing services specifically for low-income households. The IRS also maintains information about where to locate free tax help in your area through their website.
Practical Takeaway: If you work and earn income but have low to moderate earnings, investigate the EITC carefully, as it could significantly reduce your taxes or increase your refund. SSDI payments do not count as earned income for EITC purposes, so you can receive both SSDI and claim the EITC for work earnings.
The Child and Dependent Care Credit
The Child and Dependent Care Credit helps people pay for care expenses for dependents while they work or attend school. This credit covers costs for daycare, after-school programs, summer camps, and similar services. For people with disabilities who have dependents, or for parents caring for adult children with disabilities, this credit may reduce care-related expenses' tax impact. In 2024, families can claim up to $3,000 in qualifying expenses for one dependent, or up to $6,000 for two or more dependents.
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The credit calculation is more complex than simply claiming a percentage of expenses. Instead, it uses a sliding scale based on your adjusted gross income (AGI). Higher-income filers receive a smaller percentage of expenses as a credit, while lower-income filers receive a larger percentage. Someone with an AGI below $15,000 could claim 35% of qualifying expenses, meaning $3,000 in expenses would generate a $1,050 credit. Someone with an AGI above $43,000 claims only 20% of expenses, so the same $3,000 in expenses would generate a $600 credit.
Several important rules govern what qualifies as dependent care. The care must enable you to work, look for work, or—if you are a full-time student—attend school. The dependent must live with you for more than half the year. The dependent must be your child under age 13, your disabled spouse, or your disabled parent or other disabled dependent of any age. Care provided by relatives sometimes qualifies, but the provider cannot be your dependent, and you must report their tax identification number to the IRS.
An adult with a disability caring for an aging parent with disabilities might use this credit if they pay for the parent's care. For example, if an adult hires a care aide to help their disabled parent stay at home while the adult works, some or all of that care cost might qualify. However, costs for overnight care or overnight facilities do not qualify, and food and lodging expenses do not count as dependent care costs. Only services that enable you to work qualify for the credit.
Reporting this credit requires Form 2441 attached to your tax return. You will need the care provider's name, address, and tax identification number. If you use an agency or daycare center, they can provide this information. Keeping receipts and payment records throughout the year makes completing this form much simpler.
Practical Takeaway: If you pay for care—whether for children, aging parents, or others with disabilities—while you work, track these expenses carefully throughout the year. The credit percentage increases for lower-income filers, making it potentially quite valuable for people with disabilities working in lower-wage jobs.
The Disabled Access Credit and Architectural/Transportation Barriers Removal Deduction
The Disabled Access Credit applies to small business owners who make modifications to help customers with disabilities access their businesses. While this credit primarily benefits business owners rather than employees with disabilities, some people with disabilities do own businesses and might benefit from it. The credit covers up to $5,000 in qualifying expenses per year, paying for up to half of those costs (maximum $2,500 credit annually). Expenses must relate to removing barriers that prevent customers with disabilities from using the business.
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Qualifying expenses include installing wheelchair ramps, widening doorways, modifying bathrooms for wheelchair access, installing visual or auditory alarm systems, providing materials in alternative formats, and purchasing or modifying equipment used by customers. A restaurant owner might install a lowered counter section or accessible restroom. A retail store might widen aisles or install a lift for upper-level access. A dental office might purchase adapted equipment for patients with mobility disabilities. The credit recognizes that these modifications benefit both customers and sometimes employees with disabilities.
The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Removal Deduction provides an alternative tax benefit. Rather than using the credit structure, business owners can deduct expenses for removing barriers. A deduction reduces