ok.. so my dad is on disability, makes hardly nothing from that. step mom makes 12 an hour in a 32 hour week. Mom is dead. I make minimum wage and work a 40, live alone. i'm 19 by the way. should i file as an independant, or dependant. How do i get the most money. (I'm not trying to rip off the government, i just really need it. I want to be able to focus on college and not having to work so much and sacrifice sleep.)