Carrying my husband on income tax when he is on SSI

Mom is wrong. Assuming you are in fact still married on Dec 31 of the tax year and you both lived together in the same household for at least the last 6 months of that tax year, you will file a joint return. Mom has no say in this. What I suspect is that she wants you to file MFS so she can claim him on her tax return. While there is the possibility she may qualify to claim him, you'll need to complete your return both ways to see what works best for *YOU* and your husband. Basically, you "MAY" have to include his SSI on your tax return, yet it still not be taxable at all. It *MAY* however increase your AGI and could potentially put you in a higher tax bracket, but I seriously doubt it.

Please note my use of the word *MAY*. For the most part and with some exceptions, SSI is not reportable on any tax return, hardly ever.

Note that I am assuming you and your husband maintain your own household separate from mom, and that the two of you lived in that same household together for at least the last 6 months of the tax year. If my assumptions are wrong, then provide details so I can provide information and detail to help you better support the correct and "legal" possibilities here.