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My MIL decided to retire 2 yrs ago and quit her job, but hasn't been able to file for Social Security due to needing documents she does not have. She had to apply for a from from immigration, that was 28 months ago. She has been living off retirement savings for that entire time and today told me that she wasnt going to file her taxes this year because there is no need to. I told her that didnt sound right and she told me she has them taking taxes out when she gets her monthly distribution and they sent her a letter telling her she didnt need to file taxes this year. I am not sure they would even send her a letter like that. I suspect she is lying to shut down the conversation.

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https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/who-needs-to-file-a-tax-return

It depends upon what her income level is, not whether taxes are being withheld.
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Whether or not one needs to file is completely based on one's income.
The last thing you want to rely on is the multiple opinions of a Forum of caregivers from around the world.
This is a simple call to a CPA regarding your mom's yearly income. You will be told whether or not you should file. In my book, if it's a question, then do it. Not something you can afford to be wrong about.
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I'm a tax aide volunteer for AARP and I would urge your MIL to file her income tax returns. I would urge all seniors to do so. In fact, we file returns for people who only have social security income and others who don't owe any taxes. There are several reasons for this. First, your MIL may be having taxes withheld but she might have overpaid and be due a refund. It's also possible they under deducted and she might owe (not likely). Second, believe it or not there's a lot of identity theft in income tax filing--I was a victim myself some years ago--so it's good to file even if you don't owe to cut down on the possibility of identity theft. Third, some states have extra benefits or credits for elders and lower-income taxpayers, but a person needs to file federal and state tax returns to get those benefits. Back during covid when the federal government distributed covid relief payments, they went to people on record as having filed taxes, but also to people getting social security or government pensions who were in federal gov't records, even if they hadn't filed taxes. I know here in Maine AARP was allowed to re-open our tax prep later in the year so people who hadn't filed could get their covid relief payments. The state had some covid relief payments too, so filing state returns allowed people to get those.
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Elburs,

You need to get Mom to a Social Security Office. If she has worked in the US for 40 qtrs she is entiltled to the SS she paid in and now Medicare. There is a timeline to file for Medicare A and B and she should have both. B has a premium that will be taken out of her SS payment.
Mom may be entitled to Medicaid health which includes, in my State, prescriptions, dental and vision. My Mom was on PADD which was State program for prescriptions.

If she is 65 she needs to sign up for Medicare now. If she doesn't there could be a big penalty later. Your and your husband's income has nothing to do with her being able to get Medicare or Medicaid. You also need to find out why immigration is taking so long. My MIL was from England and lived here almost 70 years. She hadvan English passport and a green card and she had no problem getting SS or Medicare here.
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I suspect you're right. Call an accountant/CPA/H&R Block office to inquire.

My DH and I are retired. He has funds withheld from his retirement income each month too, and yes, we file our taxes yearly.
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To clear a few things up we all live together in the same home with her as primary on the loan and husband and I as cosigners. So yes we do have an interest in whether she is handling her finances as we pay for 2/3s of all the bills and 1/2 the utilities and we take care of all maintenance and upkeep ourselves her mental health and overall health is not good, she is suffering from depression and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the last year also, she has been without health insurance for a third time now due to not getting paperwork filed in a timely mater when i asked her if she got her paperwork in she said said yes I saw her perscription bill after she got them filled and 1 of the 3 i saw she paid over 80$ for so either she didnt file the paperwork or she was denied for some reason, i have never seen a med cost that much on county insurance from my experience the copay wouldnt be that much. We are very concerned for her sake and ours and not sure what to even do for her at this point it feels like she is financially neglecting herself because she emotionally cannot handle her situation.
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ThisIsIt Feb 2024
You need to contact your local Agency on Aging. They can help your mom signed up for Medicare and get on a plan that can fit her needs
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Everyone has to file a return. She may get all of taxes back with low income.
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There are free services that help with tax preparations for people with lower income. They are often help either at your local public library or senior citizens center....you might ask them
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Of course she has to file a tax return. She's entitled to a deduction which might result in a refund.
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Everyone should file a tax return, as stated from several readers. Refunds are possible. If all income goes for care in a facility, ask a tax consultant or accountant about this situation to file or not.
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