96-18357. When You Are a Full-Time Elementary or Secondary School Student  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 24, 1996)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 38360-38363]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-18357]
    
    
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    [[Page 38361]]
    
    SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
    
    20 CFR Part 404
    
    [Regulation No. 4]
    RIN 0960-AE21
    
    
    When You Are a Full-Time Elementary or Secondary School Student
    
    AGENCY: Social Security Administration.
    
    ACTION: Final rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: We are revising our rule on full-time elementary or secondary 
    school students to include students enrolled in home schooling or 
    independent study programs authorized by State or local law, e.g., 
    political subdivision, tribal government, or the District of Columbia. 
    The current rule covers only students in traditional institutional 
    educational settings; however, many States (or other jurisdictions) 
    provide for home schooling and independent study programs considered 
    equivalent to traditional schools. We also are showing clearly that 
    nonpayment provisions apply to certain prisoners and certain other 
    inmates of publicly funded institutions who otherwise would meet 
    student benefit requirements. In addition, we are removing outdated 
    rules on student benefits relating to months before August 1982.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: This final rule is effective July 24, 1996.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel T. Bridgewater, Legal 
    Assistant, Division of Regulations and Rulings, Social Security 
    Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235, (410) 
    965-3298 for information about this rule. For information on 
    eligibility or claiming benefits, call our national toll-free number, 
    1-800-772-1213.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
    
    Background
    
        The Social Security Amendments of 1965, Public Law 89-97, section 
    306, defined a full-time student as ``an individual who is in full-time 
    attendance as a student at an educational institution.'' An 
    ``educational institution'' was defined as ``(i) a school or college or 
    university operated or directly supported by the United States, or by 
    any State or local government or political subdivision thereof, or (ii) 
    a school or college or university which has been approved by a State or 
    accredited by a State-recognized or nationally-recognized accrediting 
    agency or body, or (iii) a non-accredited school or college or 
    university whose credits are accepted, on transfer, by not less than 
    three institutions which are so accredited * * *.'' This definition of 
    an educational institution was chosen by Congress, as explained in the 
    Senate report, ``to establish that the institution the child attends is 
    a bona fide school.'' (See S. Rep. No. 404, 89th Cong., 1st Sess. 96-
    97, reprinted in 1965 U.S. Code Cong. & Admin. News 1943, 2036-37.)
        The Senate report also stated: ``The committee believes that a 
    child over age 18 who is attending school full time is dependent just 
    as a child under 18 or a disabled older child is dependent, and that it 
    is not realistic to stop such a child's benefit at age 18.'' Ibid. We 
    understand this to mean that the committee believed that full-time 
    students attending class are less likely to be able to support 
    themselves through employment than are part-time or correspondence 
    students.
        The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, Public Law 97-35, 
    section 2210, replaced the term ``educational institution'' and its 
    definition with the requirement that the student be in full-time 
    attendance at an ``elementary or secondary school,'' which is defined 
    as a ``school which provides elementary or secondary education, 
    respectively, as determined under the law of the State or other 
    jurisdiction in which it is located.'' (See section 202(d)(7)(C)(i) of 
    the Social Security Act (the Act) as amended.) The purpose of this 
    amendment was to eliminate child's insurance benefits in the case of 
    children age 18 or older who attend postsecondary schools. Section 2210 
    also eliminated child's insurance benefits for children in elementary 
    or secondary school after they attained age 19. (See S. Rep. No. 139, 
    97th Cong., 1st Sess. 427, reprinted in 1981 U.S. Code Cong. & Admin. 
    News 396, 693.)
    
    Present Policy
    
        Child's insurance benefits under sections 202(d)(6) and (7) of the 
    Act usually terminate when the child attains age 18. However, there is 
    an exception that allows for continuation of entitlement to child's 
    benefits for persons age 18 until attainment of age 19 who are full-
    time elementary or secondary school students.
        Section 202(d)(7)(A) of the Act defines a full-time elementary or 
    secondary school student as ``an individual who is in full-time 
    attendance as a student at an elementary or secondary school, as 
    determined by the Commissioner (in accordance with regulations 
    prescribed by him) in the light of the standards and practices of the 
    schools involved * * *.''
        Section 404.367 of our current regulations states, in pertinent 
    part:
    
        * * * You are a full-time elementary or secondary school student 
    if you meet all the following conditions:
        (a) You attend a school which provides elementary or secondary 
    education, respectively, as determined under the law of the State or 
    other jurisdiction in which it is located;
        (b) You are in full-time attendance in a day or evening 
    noncorrespondence course of at least 13 weeks duration and are 
    carrying a subject load which is considered full-time for day 
    students under the institution's standards and practices. 
    Additionally, your scheduled attendance must be at the rate of at 
    least 20 hours per week unless we find that:
        (1) The school attended does not schedule at least 20 hours per 
    week and going to that particular school is your only reasonable 
    alternative; or
        (2) Your medical condition prevents you from having scheduled 
    attendance of at least 20 hours per week. To prove that your medical 
    condition prevents you from scheduling 20 hours per week, we may 
    request that you provide appropriate medical evidence or a statement 
    from the school.
    
    New Policy
    
        Current regulations do not provide guidance on alternative 
    education programs covered under the laws of the State (or other 
    jurisdiction) in which a student resides. Before the development of 
    such programs, our policy had been in keeping with the traditional 
    definition of educational institutions. Such traditional institutional-
    type schools include public, private, and religious schools. Except for 
    the two specific exceptions noted in the regulations, we also 
    consistently have required that the student be scheduled to attend 
    school for at least 20 hours per week to be considered a full-time 
    student.
        Because most States (or other jurisdictions) have begun providing 
    for education based on alternative education methods, we evaluated 
    cases involving home schooling or independent study programs on an 
    individual basis. This evaluation has provided sufficient information 
    to formulate these proposed regulations.
        Many States or other jurisdictions have laws recognizing home 
    schooling. Home schooling is an educational program in which the 
    student is generally taught within the home by a parent/teacher. The 
    State or other jurisdiction specifies the requirements that must be met 
    and the procedures that must be followed in these situations. There 
    must be a parent or other home school teacher participating in the home 
    school instruction. This participation may be in the form of
    
    [[Page 38362]]
    
    actual instruction, answering questions, administering tests, keeping 
    attendance records, etc. The student must be carrying a course load 
    that is considered full-time using the same standards and practices 
    used for full-time day students in the traditional setting, as 
    determined under the law of the State or other jurisdiction in which 
    the student resides.
        The child's home schooling teacher must submit evidence that legal 
    requirements for home schooling are met. Depending on these 
    requirements, this evidence might include a copy of the certificate of 
    intent that is filed with the local school or school district, 
    documentation that State-mandated tests were taken, a list of the 
    courses being taught, and a copy of the attendance log or chart.
        Also, some States or other jurisdictions authorize the governing 
    board of a school district or a county office of education to offer 
    independent study to meet the educational needs of pupils in accordance 
    with certain requirements. An independent study course could (but need 
    not) include instruction in the student's home or elsewhere outside the 
    classroom. The study program is conducted in accordance with written 
    policies and rules. It is coordinated, evaluated, and under the 
    supervision of an employee of the school district or county office of 
    education who has been certified to act as a home teacher. Independent 
    study programs which involve instruction and supervision by a teacher 
    employed by the school (or local school district) include written 
    agreements for each independent study student specifying, among other 
    things, the duration of the agreement and a statement of the number of 
    course credits to be earned by the pupil upon completion. The effect of 
    the written agreement is to extend the educational setting beyond the 
    traditional classroom. It is a situation similar to those students who 
    are in school-approved work-study programs that extend the educational 
    setting.
        We therefore are revising Sec. 404.367 to include students enrolled 
    in home schooling or independent study programs authorized by State (or 
    other jurisdiction) laws. The student must be carrying a course load 
    considered to be full-time under the standards and practices used for 
    day students who are in full-time attendance at traditional educational 
    institutions. Students in these types of situations include a wide 
    range of individuals. For example, home schooling students may be in 
    that situation for religious reasons or because the parents do not 
    agree with the local school curriculum.
        Students in independent study programs may include those 
    individuals who cannot take advantage of the traditional school 
    setting, such as hard-to-keep-in-school students (unable to adjust or 
    delinquents), single mothers, or expectant mothers. All students--those 
    in traditional programs and those in alternative programs--who work are 
    subject to the annual earnings test.
        A home schooling program must meet the requirements set forth by 
    the State (or other jurisdiction). An independent study program 
    organized in accordance with the State (or other jurisdiction) 
    requirements must be coordinated, evaluated and supervised by an 
    employee of the school district or county office of education and must 
    comply with the policies of the school district or county office of 
    education. To be entitled to child's insurance benefits as a student, 
    an individual enrolled in either type of program must meet both the 
    Federal and the State (or other jurisdiction) full-time attendance 
    (FTA) requirements.
        When determining FTA, the home schooling teacher will be the 
    certifying school official for FTA purposes. In independent study 
    situations, the school teacher/official supervising the performance of 
    the student under the written agreement between the school and the 
    student will be the certifying official for FTA.
        When determining the number of hours spent in school attendance for 
    an approved independent study program, we will combine the number of 
    agreed upon hours spent in independent study with the number of hours 
    in actual school attendance. The course load must be equivalent to that 
    of a student in the school's full-time day program.
        We will continue to exclude from eligibility those individuals who 
    are enrolled solely in correspondence courses. We do not believe that 
    such courses satisfy the definition of an elementary or secondary 
    school in the Act, and usually they would not meet State (or other 
    jurisdiction) requirements.
        We also are revising Sec. 404.367 to clearly show that section 
    202(x) of the Act, regarding nonpayment of benefits to certain 
    prisoners and certain other inmates of publicly funded institutions, 
    applies to those individuals who otherwise meet student benefit 
    requirements. Section 202(x) is applicable to those who otherwise would 
    qualify for benefits under section 202(d)(7)(A) of the Act.
        Further, we are removing Sec. 404.369 since it applies only to 
    child's benefits for full-time students for months before August 1982. 
    This section has not been applicable for over 10 years and there is no 
    longer a need to retain it. Sections that refer to Sec. 404.369 (i.e., 
    Secs. 404.350-404.353) are revised to remove such references.
        On December 7, 1995, we published this final rule as a proposed 
    rule in the Federal Register at 60 FR 62783, and on December 18, 1995, 
    a minor correction was published at 60 FR 65093. The proposed rule 
    provided for a 60-day comment period; however, there were no public 
    comments during this period. Therefore, we are publishing this final 
    rule essentially unchanged from the proposed rule.
        In addition, SSA is not providing a 30-day delay in the effective 
    date of this final rule. The rule relieves a restriction on who may 
    qualify for student benefits and meets the exception under 5 U.S.C. 
    553(d)(1).
    
    Regulatory Procedures
    
    Executive Order 12866
    
        We have consulted with the Office of Management and Budget and 
    determined that these rules do not meet the criteria for a significant 
    regulatory action under Executive Order 12866.
    
    Regulatory Flexibility Act
    
        We certify that this final rule will not have a significant 
    economic impact on a substantial number of small entities since it only 
    affects individuals. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis as 
    provided in Public Law 96-354, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, is not 
    required.
    
    Paperwork Reduction Act
    
        This rule imposes no additional reporting or recordkeeping 
    requirements subject to Office of Management and Budget clearance.
    
    (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Nos. 96.001 Social 
    Security--Disability Insurance; 96.002 Social Security--Retirement 
    Insurance; 96.004 Social Security-- Survivors Insurance)
    
    List of Subjects in 20 CFR Part 404
    
        Administrative practice and procedure, Blind, Disability benefits, 
    Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance, Reporting and 
    recordkeeping requirements, Social Security.
    
        Dated: July 8, 1996.
    Shirley S. Chater,
    Commissioner of Social Security.
    
        For the reasons set out in the preamble, subpart D of part 404 of 
    Chapter III of Title 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended 
    as follows:
    
    [[Page 38363]]
    
    PART 404--FEDERAL OLD-AGE, SURVIVORS AND DISABILITY INSURANCE 
    (1950-    )
    
    Subpart D--[Amended]
    
        1. The authority citation for subpart D of part 404 continues to 
    read as follows:
    
        Authority: Secs. 202, 203(a) and (b), 205(a), 216, 223, 225, 
    228(a)-(e), and 702(a)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402, 
    403(a) and (b), 405(a), 416, 423, 425, 428(a)-(e), and 902(a)(5)).
    
        2. Section 404.350 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(5) to read 
    as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 404.350  Who is entitled to child's benefits.
    
        (a) * * *
        (5) You are under age 18; you are 18 years old or older and have a 
    disability that began before you became 22 years old; or you are 18 
    years or older and qualify for benefits as a full-time student as 
    described in Sec. 404.367.
    * * * * *
        3. Section 404.351 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as 
    follows:
    
    
    Sec. 404.351  Who may be reentitled to child's benefits.
    
    * * * * *
        (a) The first month in which you qualify as a full-time student. 
    (See Sec. 404.367.)
    * * * * *
        4. Section 404.352 is amended by revising the fourth sentence of 
    paragraph (b)(1) to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 404.352  When child's benefits begin and end.
    
    * * * * *
        (b) * * *
        (1) * * * If you become 18 years old and you qualify as a full-time 
    student who is not disabled, your entitlement ends with the last month 
    you are a full-time student or, if earlier, the month before the month 
    you become age 19. * * *
    * * * * *
        5. Section 404.353 is amended by revising the second sentence of 
    paragraph (a) to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 404.353  Child's benefit amounts.
    
        (a) * * * The amount of your monthly benefit may change as 
    explained in Sec. 404.304.
    * * * * *
        6. Section 404.367 is amended by revising the first sentence of the 
    introductory text; revising paragraphs (a) and (b); redesignating 
    paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) as paragraphs (d), (e), and (f), 
    respectively; adding paragraph (c); and, revising paragraph (f) to read 
    as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 404.367  When you are a ``full-time elementary or secondary school 
    student''.
    
        You may be eligible for child's benefits if you are a full-time 
    elementary or secondary school student. * * *
        (a) You attend a school which provides elementary or secondary 
    education as determined under the law of the State or other 
    jurisdiction in which it is located. Participation in the following 
    programs also meets the requirements of this paragraph:
        (1) You are instructed in elementary or secondary education at home 
    in accordance with a home school law of the State or other jurisdiction 
    in which you reside; or
        (2) You are in an independent study elementary or secondary 
    education program in accordance with the law of the State or other 
    jurisdiction in which you reside which is administered by the local 
    school or school district/jurisdiction.
        (b) You are in full-time attendance in a day or evening 
    noncorrespondence course of at least 13 weeks duration and you are 
    carrying a subject load which is considered full-time for day students 
    under the institution's standards and practices. If you are in a home 
    schooling program as described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, you 
    must be carrying a subject load which is considered full-time for day 
    students under standards and practices set by the State or other 
    jurisdiction in which you reside;
        (c) To be considered in full-time attendance, your scheduled 
    attendance must be at the rate of at least 20 hours per week unless one 
    of the exceptions in paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this section applies. 
    If you are in an independent study program as described in paragraph 
    (a)(2) of this section, your number of hours spent in school attendance 
    are determined by combining the number of hours of attendance at a 
    school facility with the agreed upon number of hours spent in 
    independent study. You may still be considered in full-time attendance 
    if your scheduled rate of attendance is below 20 hours per week if we 
    find that:
        (1) The school attended does not schedule at least 20 hours per 
    week and going to that particular school is your only reasonable 
    alternative; or
        (2) Your medical condition prevents you from having scheduled 
    attendance of at least 20 hours per week. To prove that your medical 
    condition prevents you from scheduling 20 hours per week, we may 
    request that you provide appropriate medical evidence or a statement 
    from the school.
     * * * * *
        (f) You are not subject to the provisions in Sec. 404.468 for 
    nonpayment of benefits to certain prisoners and certain other inmates 
    of publicly funded institutions.
    
    
    Sec. 404.369  [Removed]
    
        7. Section 404.369 is removed.
    
    [FR Doc. 96-18357 Filed 7-23-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4190-29-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
7/24/1996
Published:
07/24/1996
Department:
Social Security Administration
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
96-18357
Dates:
This final rule is effective July 24, 1996.
Pages:
38360-38363 (4 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Regulation No. 4
RINs:
0960-AE21: When You Are a Full-Time Elementary or Secondary School Student (552F)
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0960-AE21/when-you-are-a-full-time-elementary-or-secondary-school-student-552f-
PDF File:
96-18357.pdf
CFR: (6)
20 CFR 404.350
20 CFR 404.351
20 CFR 404.352
20 CFR 404.353
20 CFR 404.367
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