Social Security to take disabled woman’s money after fund-raiser sends her to a baseball game

Q13Fox | 12/5/16 | Tribune Media

[198ml]

One Kansas City Royals fan feels like she is being punished for the good deed of others.

Joyce Jeter has a debilitating medical condition, causing her to rely on Social Security as her only source of income. Royals fans rallied around her to raise money to send her to a game at Kauffman Stadium, but now that gift is leaving her financial future in jeopardy.

Joyce told Fox4KC she feels like she's being robbed all because she accepted a gift.

[AppyPappy]

If someone gives you money, that’s income.

https://www.irs.gov/uac/reporting-miscellaneous-income

[IYAS9YAS]

If someone gives you money, that’s income.

No, if the money/ticket was given as a gift, which in this case it was, then it is a gift, and is not taxable under IRS rules. The only thing addressed in your link would be prizes/awards, and that's for entering contests (something for something). This was purely a gift.

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/frequently-asked-questions-on-gift-taxes#2

If the value of the gift exceeds a certain amount from any one donor, then the donor would be responsible for paying a gift tax, but the recipient would not.