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Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/Adding a dependent
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Question
Hi, My husband and I have been taking care of my little brother for a year now. We are supporting him 100% financially, providing everything he needs, though we haven't claimed him as a dependent. We live on post housing, and I don't know if he can be claimed as our dependent and receive the same benefits as us. He is 19 years old now, but is still trying to get his GED so he can go to school. He is unemployed and suffers from OCD, so the medical insurance would be beneficial to him. Thanks so much for your time and help
Hi Sonya,
If he was under the age of 18, it would be simple. All you would need is a court order making you or your husband the "legal guardian" or "ward."
However, he is legally an adult, so the rules are different. The only way he could be made a dependent is if he is incapable of self-care, and you would have to get a court to certify that, and make you (or your husband) his "legal guardian." Courts are very reluctant to do this, unless there is clear and defining evidence that he is incapable of caring for himself.
For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my US Military information site at: http://usmilitary.about.com
Hope this helps!
Rod Powers
About.com US Military Guide
http://usmilitary.about.com
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Answers by Expert:
Rod Powers
Expertise
Rod Powers is considered one of the premire experts about U.S. Military career information on the planet. He has more than 30,000 articles about U.S. Military career information on the About.com U.S. Military Careers Information website at: http://usmilitary.about.com. Additionally, he is the author of "ASVAB for Dummies," "ASVAB AFQT for Dummies," (available in Dec 2009), and "Veteran Benefits for Dummies," all published by Wiley Publishing. He is also the author of "Barrons' Guide to Officer Candidate School Tests," published by Barron's Educational Series.
Experience
Rod Powers is a retired Air Force first sergeant, with 23 years of active duty service, 11 of those years as an Air Force First Sergeant. He has helped thousands of military members, recruits, and military applicants since he took over the About.com U.S Military Careers Information site in 1999. He has a reputation for "telling it like it is," so questions may not be answered based on "what you want to hear," but will be answered based of the bast available information, concerning the service/situation.
Education/Credentials
Rod is a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Noncommissioned Officers Academy, the Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, and the Air Force First Sergeant Academy. He also holds an Associates Degree in Personnel Administration from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF).
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