I have not been able to work this past year, am I still eligible for a tax refund, and can I still claim my children, ages 17&18?:confused:

You did not earn any income at all last year? Did someone else support you and your children? Were you collecting welfare? If the answer is yes to all of these questions, then No, you are not required to even file a tax return and No, you are not entitled to a refund. Refunds are for taxpayers who have overpaid income taxes. Sorry.

AS far as I know you cah still get the Child Tax Credit even if you didn't have an income. You just have to file for it. But, call :
Telephone Assistance for Individuals:
Toll-Free, 1-800-829-1040
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. your local time (Alaska & Hawaii follow Pacific Time).

I'm sorry, but if you did not work or have any income, you DO NOT qualify for a refund.
But whomever did support you and your children may be able to claim you and the children if they support you over 50%

Per IRS Rules:
If you have no tax. Credits, such as the child tax credit, the adoption credit, or the credit for child and dependent care expenses, are used to reduce tax. If your tax on Form 1040, line 46, or Form 1040A, line 28, is zero, do not figure the child tax credit because there is no tax to reduce.

Rule 7. You Must Have Earned Income
This credit is called the “earned income” credit because, to qualify, you must work and have earned income. If you are married and file a joint return, you meet this rule if at least one spouse works and has earned income. If you are an employee, earned income includes all the taxable income you get from your employer. If you are self-employed or a statutory employee, you will figure your earned income on EIC Worksheet B in the instructions for Form 1

Please understand that the information provided on this forum is for general tax information only and is not intended to represent legal or tax representation.

Mobea is right on, as usual!