Form 2441 error regarding student/disabled person's earned income

Not many options, I am assuming only one parent is working with a w2. Otherwise, maybe a w2 is listed under the wrong person.

With one parent not working, the only options are student or disabled. You well know that a Sch C losing money doesn't count.

If Box 10 shows DCB, you have to file the 2441.

A dependent over 13 with disability, I wonder if some data could get stuck and trigger the parent issue?

You didn't say if they were students, if students - you know the deemed income - same as disability.

In the end, all you can do is make sure the program has positive income for both parents in order to claim the need for childcare on the Form 2441. If not a student or disabled and no positive income, they don't qualify. See 2441 Instructions

Haven’t checked but my recollection is that if the dependent is too old the error checking will threw off a cautionary error to alert that you should confirm eligibility (i.e. disabled)… we complained years ago that they should add a disabled check box but don’t know if they did.