I am a full time single mother who lives off student loans. Can I get a tax return and how?

What do you mean by can you get a tax return?

Do you have to file a tax return?

Can you get a tax refund?

Money you get from a loan is not income.
You need to get some kind of income from work to be eligible for the earned income credit.

I agree with Five Rings, though I do not think MaryAlice is looking for the EIC.

She is probably hoping to qualify for either the Recivery Rebate Credit (a carryover of the Bush Economic Stimulus Rebate) and/or the upcoming stimulus rebate.

Unfortunately, she qualifies for neither.