Social Security Benefits and the Importance of Accurate School Attendance Reporting

October 15, 2026

Did you know that Social Security pays benefits to more than 200,000 students each year? If you are a school official or a student receiving Social Security benefits, it’s important to understand how full-time school attendance affects eligibility, and how you can help ensure benefits are paid correctly.

What Are Student Benefits?

Student benefits are available to eligible students who are attending elementary or secondary school full-time. We ask schools to certify full-time attendance to establish the student's eligibility to student benefits. Our dedicated webpage for School Officials provides detailed information about these benefits, including eligibility requirements and reporting responsibilities.

What Does “Full-Time Attendance” Mean?

For Social Security purposes, a student is considered in “full-time attendance” if they meet the following requirements:

Attend an elementary or secondary school, as determined by the law of the state or other jurisdiction in which the school is located.
Enrolled in a day or evening non-correspondence course lasting at least 13 weeks.
Scheduled to attend at least 20 hours weekly.
Carry a subject load considered full-time by the school’s standards.

Use Form SSA-1372-BK to Verify Attendance

Social Security uses Form SSA-1372-BK to verify a student’s full-time attendance. Here’s what you need to know:

The form is sent to child beneficiaries about three months before they turn 18.
Students must complete the “Student’s Statement Regarding School Attendance.”
A school official must complete the “Certification by School Official” and retain the “Notice of Cessation of Full-Time Attendance.”
The student must return the “Student’s Statement Regarding School Attendance” and the “Certification by School Official” to their local Social Security office.
If the student’s full-time attendance ends, or the student graduates before the expected date, the school official should complete the “Notice of Cessation of Full-Time Attendance” and mail it to us.

Tips for Completing Form SSA-1372-BK:

Students and school officials should read all instructions carefully before filling out the form.
Students should provide accurate information about their school and attendance.
School officials should confirm the student’s status and promptly report any changes.
School officials should keep the ”Notice of Cessation of Full-Time Attendance” until the student is no longer attending full-time, then complete and return it as instructed.

Why Accurate Reporting Matters

Accurate and timely reporting of changes in school attendance or graduation dates is essential. Failure to report these changes can result in incorrect benefit payments, which may need to be repaid later. Some beneficiaries and school officials do not always report when a student stops attending full-time or graduates earlier than expected. Common factors contributing to this include:

Uncertainty about what needs to be reported.
Misunderstanding scheduled breaks (such as summer vacation) versus permanent changes.
Not knowing who is responsible for reporting changes.

What Changes in School Attendance should be Reported?

Students must notify Social Security promptly if they:

Stop attending school.
Reduce school attendance below full-time.
Change schools.
Don’t graduate on schedule.

School officials should report when a student:

Stops attending school full-time.
Graduates earlier than the expected date.

Neither students nor school officials need to report that attendance stopped for a scheduled vacation period of no more than four full calendar months (like summer vacation) unless the student does not plan to return after the break.

How to Report Changes in School Attendance

Students can report changes in school attendance by:

Calling us at 1-800-772-1213 or, if deaf or hearing impaired, TTY 1-800-325-0778.
Calling or visiting their local Social Security office.
Mailing Form SSA-1383 to their local Social Security office.

When a student changes schools or doesn’t graduate on schedule, they must complete a new SSA-1372-BK, have a school official certify it, and return the completed and certified pages to their local Social Security office.

School officials should report changes by completing the “Notice of Cessation of Full-Time Attendance” and returning it to Social Security.