On the 1040 page 1 at the top of the page one can check the box for head of household without a child. Can a grandfather check this box for his grandchild if the mother ( his daughter is claiming the grandchild as a dependent. When can someone check this box? The grandfather earned more income than the daughter and they are all living at his house. The daughter already filed the child. So the grandfather wants to check this box since he provided some of he support