Occasionally, there are cases in which a student claimant/beneficiary is (or was) attending a school closed because of a strike or other unrest. There are no problems if the school is not closed for more than 4 consecutive calendar months.

The Office of the General Counsel has indicated that, under certain conditions, SSA does not consider the period when a student beneficiary cannot attend classes because of a strike of the school personnel as a period of nonattendance. Thus, where the school is (or was) closed for more than 4 consecutive calendar months, there are issues that require resolution.

Advise the student that we cannot make a decision on the claim because the school is closed and cannot supply the needed evidence. Instruct the student to notify SSA when the school reopens or he or she returns to FTA.

Diary the claim for the 5^th month after the date the school closed or for 60 days, whichever is later. When the diary expires, if there is no information showing the school has reopened or that the student is in FTA at another EI, advise the student that:

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  SSA records show he or she has not attended school since [the last month of FTA at an EI or the month he or she reached age 18], and

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  SSA will deny the claim (or terminate his or her entitlement) unless we receive information within 30 days showing the student is in FTA at an EI.

Diary the case for 30 days. If no response has been received when the diary expires, deny the claim.