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SSA logo: link to Social Security Online home 342. When do benefits end for a child who is attending elementary or secondary school?

If a child is attending elementary or secondary school full time when he or she turns 19 and has not completed the requirements for a secondary school diploma or equivalent certificate, the child's benefits continue through whichever of the following occurs first:

  1. The month he or she completes the course;

  2. The second month after the month the child reaches age 19 (if the school operates on a yearly basis, which is the usual case); or

  3. The last month of the quarter or semester that is in progress when he or she reaches age 19 (if the school operates on a quarterly or semester basis and requires students to reenroll for each new quarter or semester).

Last Revised: March, 2001

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Last reviewed or modified Monday Jan 14, 2008

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