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@athaureaux6 wrote:

 Even if you had 1 dollar earned income in 2020, you will be able to get the 5320 because you can elect the 2019 earned income amount to figure out the credit.

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You don't even need $1 of earned income.  It could be $0.

Some low-income people DEPEND on the EIC each year, so that is what this provision is for.  In your example, that person may be used to getting $5,000+ of EIC every year.  This is a provision for those who lost their jobs (lower Earned Income) so that they can still get that $5,000+ of EIC that they are used to depending on.