Regular attendance means the student takes one or more courses of study and attends classes:

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  in a college or university for at least 8 hours per week under a semester or quarter system;

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  in grades 7 - 12 for at least 12 hours per week;

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  in a course of training to prepare him or her for a paying job for at least 15 hours per week if the course involves shop practice, or 12 hours per week if it does not involve shop practice. This training includes anti-poverty programs, such as the Job Corps and government-supported courses in self-improvement; or

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  for less than the amount of time indicated above for reasons beyond the student's control, such as illness, if circumstances justify the reduced credit load or attendance.

Examples of school attendance

School attendance less than the required hours

Kim is a physically disabled student who attends vocational school only one day per week due to the unavailability of transportation. Although her enrollment for attendance is less than 12 hours per week, Kim qualifies as regularly attending school because the lack of transportation is a circumstance beyond her control.

Enrollment in special course of study

Edward is a 19-year-old student attending a public high school. He does not attend regular classes but receives special training to meet self-improvement skills such as combing hair, dressing, and eating. Edward is not a student for SSI purposes despite attendance at a secondary school facility because he is not attending a curriculum for grades 7-12.

Student in a training course

Sara is a 21-year-old student who attends Perkins School for the Blind. She is in a training course 20 hours per week. Sara spends 15 hours per week learning office skills and 5 hours per week learning personal grooming skills. At the conclusion of the course, Sara will be able to use her office skills for a paying job (sheltered or in a competitive job market). The 15 hours per week that she spends on learning office skills meets the required attendance hours and qualifies her as a student for SSI purposes.

In addition to the general requirements above, a person may qualify as a student in any of the following categories provided the additional criteria are met:

A recipient remains a student when classes end if he or she attended classes regularly just before the school closed for school break and;

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  tells us that he or she intends to resume attending regularly when school reopens; or

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  resumes attending regularly when school reopens.

NOTE: If a student changes intent to return to school, determine that the recipient is no longer a student effective the month the intent changed.

Example:

Jane is a 19-year-old student who enrolled in a vocational course. In June 2014, she completed one-half of the courses, and reported her intent to return to school for the second half in late August 2014. In October 2014, you discovered that she did not return to school. Jane lost her student status effective August 1, 2014.

A student's counselor or teacher may believe the student needs to stay out of class for a short time to enable him or her to continue studying or training. Consider the recipient to be a student regularly attending school, college, or training that prepares him or her for a paying job. The training courses must prepare the student for work or for a job that will meet the student’s specific needs.

A recipient is a student regularly attending school for the month in which he or she completes or stops the course of study or training.

Develop school attendance only when the individual is:

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  An applicant, recipient, or deemor aged 18 to 22 and alleges being a student;

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  Under age 18 (but at least in grade 7), and only if he or she expects to earn over $65 in a month; or

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  Aged 18 to 22 and could be included in the parent-to-child and spouse-to-spouse deeming computations, such as an ineligible child. (see SI 00820.510)

Obtain the following information from the applicant or recipient:

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  Name, address, and authorized website address of the school, institution, or instructor;

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  Name, telephone number, and authorized e-mail address of the person to contact for verification; and

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  Information on the course(s) of study, dates of enrollment, number of hours of attendance, and other activities of the individual.

1. a. 

   Verify student enrollment by:

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     Examining school records such as an ID card, tuition receipt, or other comparable evidence; or

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     Contacting the school or agency, but only if the student does not have the evidence as described in SI 00501.020E.2 in this section.

   If you contact the school or agency, accept either a written or an oral statement. Include the date of contact, contact person’s name, and telephone number.

2. b. 

   Document or retain the enrollment information:

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     on a Report of Contact; or

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     on the EVID screen on the Shared Process Menu (see GN 00301.285); or

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     in the Non-Disability Repository for Evidentiary Documents (NDRed)

IMPORTANT: If the recipient qualifies for SEIE follow the procedures in SI 00820.510C.

If the student’s allegation of attendance meets the regular attendance standards, accept his or her allegation of the number of hours of attendance without requesting school certification of attendance. If the student alleges a reduced credit load or attendance due to circumstances beyond his or her control, obtain an explanation from the student and document the information as described in SI 00501.020E.3 in this section.

If a student takes special education classes that do not satisfy the standard academic or vocational training requirements, develop to determine whether the student meets the school attendance requirements. To determine if the student meets the school attendance requirements, see SI 00501.020C.1 in this section.

If a student attends vocational or technical training, determine if the vocational or technical school or agency designed the training to prepare the student for a paying job. Contact the school or agency and accept the school’s allegation that the course or program contains training to prepare the student for a paying job.