Singles and couples who have Social Security numbers can claim the credit for EIC without a qualifying dependent if their qualified dependent doesn't have a valid social security number.

Taxpayers can claim EIC who are married, not filing a joint return, had a qualifying child living with them for more than 1/2 the year and either lived apart from their spouse for the last 6 months of the year or are legally separated according to state law under legal separation agreement or a decree of separate maintenance and didn't live in the same household as the spouse at the end of the year. Also, If the child who meets the conditions to be your qualifying child for purposes of claiming the EIC doesn't have a valid SSN, the taxpayer may still qualify to claim a self-only EIC.