Question

I meet all the criteria for being my mother's dependent except I'm not a 23-years or younger student (I'm 33). Can she claim me on her taxes?

I have been on SNAP (food stamps) for part of the year, as well as Medicaid, but most of my food is still paid for by her.

Unless you are permanently and totally disabled (see below), your mother cannot claim you as a dependent on her tax return - you are too old.

In order to claim a child as a dependent on your 2020 taxes, they must meet the following requirements:

They're related to you.
They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
They're under the age of 19 (or 24 for full-time students).
- No age limit for permanently and totally disabled children.
They lived with you for more than half the year (exceptions apply).
They didn't provide more than half of their own support for the year.

A person is permanently and totally disabled if both of the following apply:

He or she cannot engage in any substantial gainful activity because of a physical or mental condition, and
A doctor determines that the condition has lasted or can be expected to last continuously for at least a year or can lead to death.

This information is found in Publication 501, Dependents, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information.