Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled - Schedule R

Attach Schedule R to your 1040 or 1040A to claim the tax credit for the elderly or disabled.

You may be eligible for the credit if

you, or your spouse if married, were 65 or older at the end of the year, or

you, or your spouse if married, were under 65, but retired on permanent and total disability and the recipient of taxable disability income.

The IRS considers you permanently and totally disabled if you cannot engage in any substantial gainful activity because of a physical or mental condition and a physician has determined that the condition will last continuously for more than a year or can lead to your death.

Income limits do apply to the credit:

For single filers, the credit cuts off at an adjusted gross income of $17,500 or $5,000 of nontaxable social security, pension, annuity, or disability income.

For married filing jointly with only one eligible spouse, the limits are $20,000 and $5,000 respectively.

For married filing jointly with both spouses eligible the limits are $25,000 and $7,500.

For married filing separately, if both spouses lived apart for the whole year, the limits are $12,500 and $3,750.