I was on worker's compensation last year (i.e. no taxable income) and I get standard deduction refund. However, I also had several thousand in education expenses and my refund doesn't seem to increase. Why not? To me, it seems like, although I do not pay any taxes (and receive standard deduction refund), it also seems that I am being penalized against additional refund that I otherwise would have received if I had taxable income for the year. Thank you.