The Earned Income Credit is given in your return only if you have minor children and low income.
However, this credit is not given if you are married filing separately, you have to file a joint return or not be married.
Filing a joint return jeopardizes it if your spouse has pending debts, like child support or alimony (which is exactly the same, anyway).
So, your spouse's ex gets money because you had one or more children, while you don't get a penny, even if you worked hard for the whole year.
Either give the Earned Income Credit to people filing separately, or spare it from the return. It is money for one's children, not their' parents' former spouses.
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