SGT Derick J. 6233865 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Running into an issue with the family back at home. Came to the decision that it&#39;ll be much easier to add them as my dependents since I&#39;ve been providing them financially since the pandemic. How would I go about this? I&#39;m aware for married personnel it might be easier, but i don&#39;t fall into this category. Any advice would be appreciated. 2020-08-22T14:37:04-04:00 SGT Derick J. 6233865

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Running into an issue with the family back at home. Came to the decision that it&#39;ll be much easier to add them as my dependents since I&#39;ve been providing them financially since the pandemic. How would I go about this? I&#39;m aware for married personnel it might be easier, but i don&#39;t fall into this category. Any advice would be appreciated.

2020-08-22T14:37:04-04:00 2020-08-22T14:37:04-04:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 6234296

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Keep in mind, family members you add has to be physically unable to do anything for themselves. Helping family out is far different than them not physically capable of working. If you choose to help out but they are capable of working, you won’t be able to claim them as a dependent. No disrespect, don’t get caught up in trying to help everyone out and forget that you are your own responsibility (speaking from experience).

2020-08-22T17:49:34-04:00 2020-08-22T17:49:34-04:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 6234723

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>You need to be providing more than 50% of their financial upkeep for a significant amount of time to legally claim these people as your dependents. That means they don’t work and can’t work, and you pay more than half of all their bills, housing, and food. Generally speaking, if you can’t claim them as a dependent for tax purposes, you can’t claim them as a dependent in the military

2020-08-22T20:36:49-04:00 2020-08-22T20:36:49-04:00 MAJ Private RallyPoint Member 6235869

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>As others have said if can’t claim them as dependents legally on your taxes then you’re not going to be able to add them as dependents in DEERS. <br /><br />Don’t jeopardize your credit and your career (poor credit and significant debt can get that security clearance revoked) trying to help others. I know it sounds selfish, but you have to take care of yourself before you can take care of others.

2020-08-23T08:06:39-04:00 2020-08-23T08:06:39-04:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 6241426

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>&quot;Who can qualify as a military dependent?<br />Certain family members, such as a spouse or child under 21, are automatically entitled to dependency<br />status; a Servicemember need only complete 1172 and provide the necessary proof. Other family<br />members, such as parents, siblings, and adult children who are full-time students or incapacitated<br />require an initial dependency determination by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS)<br />prior to registration in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) as a family<br />member or dependent. &quot; <br /><br />&quot;How can I make my parent a dependent?<br />To seek dependent status for an adult family member, such as a father, mother, father-in-law, motherin-law, stepparent, or someone in loco parentis, DFAS will apply a financial test to determine<br />whether the family member receives over half of his/her income from the Servicemember. You must<br />submit the Servicemember’s or spouse’s birth certificate and proof of the relationship, DD Forms<br />137-3 and 1172 to show financial dependency, and proof of the family member’s identity to DFAS.<br />For someone loco parentis, this will include affidavits that that person stood in a parental capacity for<br />at least five years prior to the Servicemember (or spouse’s) 21st birthday&quot;

2020-08-24T19:31:39-04:00 2020-08-24T19:31:39-04:00 2020-08-22T14:37:04-04:00