I am 18 about to go to college. My father is disabled and receives SSI and I did too while in high school, $144 after I turned 18 each month. I'm worried that my work income will affect his income. I live with him and he supports me I should be considered a dependent student but he said that he will not claim me on the taxes, what do I do? Is it time for me to file my own?

YOUR income will have NO EFFECT on your father's income on his tax return. It is a completely separate issue.

However, your income MAY affect whether he can claim you as a dependent, because he may NOT be providing at least half of your total support.

If your work income for 2012 exceeds $3,800, you must file a tax return whether your father claims you as a dependent on his return or not.