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515.5 Full-Time Attendance (FTA) Defined 

Full-time attendance at an EI means enrollment in a day or evening noncorrespondence course at least 13 weeks in duration, carrying a subject load which is 

considered full time under the school's standards and practices for day students, with a 

scheduled rate of attendance of at least 20 hours per week. The 13 school weeks 

duration requirement refers to the entire year of study (e.g., a senior year of high 

school), and not a semester, trimester, summer school session or other segment of the 

course. 

Attendance includes time spent in regularly scheduled laboratory work, supervised 

study which is available to all students taking the particular course, required changes in 

student or teacher stations and work which is an integral part of the program of study. 

Home schooling cases (see FOM-I-510.5.3) generally are required to meet the same 

standard. The home study course should be at least 13-weeks duration and at least 20 

hours of study per week. 

515.5.1 School Registration Period 

A student, who registers for classes in one month and begins classes in the following 

month, is considered to be in FTA beginning with the month of registration if the school 

considers the student to be in FTA during registration and there is no break between the 

end of the registration period and the beginning of classes. 

Example 1: A student's registration period runs from August 26 to August 31. The 

school's classes begin on September 1, and the student's first class is on September 3. 

The school considers the student in FTA during the registration period. The student is 

considered to be in FTA for the month of August. 

Example 2: A student's registration period runs from August 26 to August 29. The 

school's classes begin on September 3 and the student's first class is on September 3. 

The student cannot be considered to be in FTA for the month of August because there 

was a break between the end of the registration period and the first day of classes 

(August 30 to September 2). 

515.5.2 Attendance Stops Before End of 13 Weeks 

If a student is attending a course at least 13 school-weeks' duration, but drops out, or is 

dropped before completing 13 school weeks, he may still receive an annuity or be 

included in the O/M computation of the employee's annuity for the months of full time 

attendance. 

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515.5.3 Student in Last Part of Course of Study 

In some cases, a student who is in the last part of his course of study may need fewer 

hours or credits than the number of hours or credits required by the school to be in fulltime attendance. When such a student is also engaged in study or related activity for 

which no credit is given (e.g., independent study), he can be considered as being in fulltime attendance. 

515.5.4 Exceptional Situations 

Effective August 1, 1991, student may be considered in full-time attendance with less 

than 20 hours as long as the student is in full-time attendance pursuant to the school's 

standards and practices in exceptional situations. Examiners will accept a reasonable 

explanation of why the student is enrolled for less than 20 hours weekly classroom 

attendance. Examples of acceptable and unacceptable situations are shown below. 

Example 1: John stopped attending school at age 16. At age 18 he enrolled for 16 1/2 

hours scheduled classroom attendance in an evening high school program. John 

explained that he had stopped attending school at age 16 because of illness and now at 

age 18 was too old to attend a conventional high school. He added that he had enrolled 

for the maximum number of hours available at the evening high school and that the 

school considers the evening program equivalent to the day program. John is 

considered to be in FTA if the school verifies him to be full-time according to its 

standards and practices. This is an exceptional situation and John has provided a 

reasonable explanation for his scheduled classroom attendance of less than 20 hours 

weekly. 

Example 2: Patty stopped attending Central High School at age 17. After attaining age 

18 she enrolled for 16 1/2 hours scheduled classroom attendance in an evening high 

school program. Patty explained that she was pregnant and was embarrassed to return 

to Central High. She added that she had considered enrolling for 20 hours weekly 

classroom attendance at the evening high school but did not because the school 

considered 16 1/2 hours to be full-time and she could then have more time to pursue 

her other interests. Patty is not considered to be in FTA. This is not an exceptional 

situation and she did not provide a reasonable explanation for her scheduled classroom 

attendance of less than 20 hours weekly. 

However, if Patty enrolls for less than 20 hours scheduled attendance for medical 

reasons based on her physician's advice, this is an exceptional situation and she has 

provided a reasonable explanation. 

515.5.5 Student in Work-study Program 

A student registered in a work-study program is considered to be in full-time attendance 

during a period in which he is working at a job assigned to him or obtained for him by 

the school as an integral part of his schooling. 

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515.5.6 Post-Secondary Level Courses 

If the student is attending a post-secondary school which also provides elementary or 

secondary education, FTA at such a school must be determined without consideration 

of courses taken beyond the 12th grade level. 

515.5.7 School Registration Period 

A student is in FTA at an EI during a school registration period if: 

	 The school considers the student in FTA during registration, and 

	 There is no break between the end of the registration period and the period 

during which the school begins classes. 

515.5.8 Student in Last Part of Course of Study 

In some cases, a student who is in the last part of his course of study may need fewer 

hours or credits than the number of hours or credits required by the school to be in fulltime attendance. When such a student is also engaged in study or related activity for 

which no credit is given (e.g., independent study), he can be considered as being in fulltime attendance. 

515.5.9 Month of Graduation 

If information is received that a student ceased FTA in a month and returned to school 

in the following month to attend graduation ceremonies only, the student will be 

considered in FTA for the month of graduation. 

If the student completes graduation requirements and attains age 19 in the same 

month, the student is in FTA that month. If the student then participates in a graduation 

ceremony in the following month, student would also be in FTA in the month of 

graduation. 

However, if there is an interval of one or more calendar months between the cessation 

of FTA and graduation, the student is not entitled after the month of FTA cessation. 

515.10 Determining Full-Time Attendance (FTA) 

515.10.1 High Schools, Vocational High Schools, Technical, Trade, Business 

Schools, etc.) 

The student is not in FTA if the course study is less than 13 weeks. FTA is established if 

the school officially states that the student is in FTA according to the school's standards 

and practices for day students AND the student's SCHEDULED rate of attendance is at 

least 20 hours per week. Attendance includes time spent in regularly scheduled 

laboratory work, supervised study which is available to all students taking the particular 

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course, required changes in student or teacher stations and work which is an integral 

part of the program of study. 

Refer to FOM-510.15 for foreign schools. 

515.10.2 General Educational Development (GED) Programs 

A GED program is considered a high school-level program regardless of the type of 

school offering the program if, under the law of the state or other jurisdiction where it is 

located, the GED program is determined to be an approved elementary or secondary 

program. A student enrolled in a GED or high school level program (12th grade or 

below) in a college, community college or a vocational/technical school is a secondary 

student if the program is approved as such by the state or by a local board of education. 

Four known states, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas require state approval for all 

GED programs. Therefore, all GED programs offered in these states would be 

considered secondary school FTA. 

GED programs offered by post-secondary schools in states other than the states listed 

above may or may not be approved by the state or local board of education. When 

necessary to determine if the student is eligible, contact the post-secondary school 

offering the GED program to determine whether the program has state or local 

approval. 

The rules in FOM-I-515.10.1 apply to determine if a student is in FTA. However, 

because of the unique nature of GED programs, special adaptations of the rules may be 

necessary in some cases. 

A. GED Course of indefinite length - Many GED programs are of an indefinite 

length, i.e., they continue until the student is able to pass a high school 

equivalency examination. In these instances, the actual length of time the 

student is in FTA determines whether the 13-week duration requirement is met. 

In meeting the 13-week duration requirement when the course is of an indefinite 

length, the student must attend 13 consecutive weeks (allowing for official school 

breaks) at the scheduled or actual rate of at least 20 hours per week or at a 

higher rate if the school's standard is higher. 

The student will be paid benefits before the expiration of the 13-week period if 

the student intends to attend for 13 weeks or more. It is immaterial whether the 

school believes the student could finish the course in less than 13 weeks. When 

filing for benefits before the 13 weeks has expired, the student should be 

informed of the 13-week requirement and that failure to be in FTA for this period 

would result in an overpayment. 

B. School has no FTA standards - In the unusual instance where a school indicates 

that it has no standards for FTA in a GED program, the district office should 

document the file to this effect. In these instances, the 20-hour rule discussed in 

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A above becomes the school's standards for purposes of FTA and, assuming the 

course is 13 weeks duration (either scheduled or of an indefinite length) and that 

all other requirements are met, student benefits can be paid. 

C. School does not operate on scheduled attendance - When the school indicates 

that the GED program does not operate on scheduled attendance, the student 

may be paid if actual attendance is at the rate of at least 20 hours per week or 

the school's standards, if higher. 

515.10.3 Simultaneous Attendance at More Than One EI 

When a student is simultaneously attending more than one EI, the work at the schools 

may be combined in determining FTA. If one of the EIs would consider the student in 

FTA if he were taking all of his courses there, consider the student in FTA. When 

investigating to determine whether the student is in FTA, do not restrict consideration to 

the confines of one school's program (e.g., if the school contacted does not offer the 

course for which the student is enrolled at the other school, talk in terms of time spent in 

any similar course which is offered at that school). If the EI is not a junior college, 

college or university, the 20-hour per week requirement must be met by combining 

attendance. Courses taken at a post-secondary school beyond the 12th grade level 

cannot be considered in determining FTA for other than 1981 Amendment survivor 

students. 

515.10.4 Radio or TV Courses 

Some schools, because of a lack of teachers and space, offer as a part of their 

curriculum courses broadcast by radio or TV. In addition to receiving credits for 

classroom attendance courses, the student receives credit (if he passes the required 

examination) toward his diploma for the radio or TV course completed. A student 

enrolled in a course broadcast by radio or TV is considered in FTA if the school 

considers him to be in FTA. 

515.10.5 Correspondence Courses 

Normally FTA cannot be based on correspondence courses even if the school meets 

the definition of an EI. However, there may be exceptions as in the following example: 

EXAMPLE: Susan completed the first semester at the Talbot High School of Illinois, but 

was unable to attend the second semester due to injuries caused by an accident. Since 

she expected to recover from her injuries in time to resume FTA at the beginning of the 

next school year, she arranged to take high school correspondence courses through 

Indiana University covering the subjects needed to complete her sophomore year. A 

Talbot high school official stated that full credit would be given for these courses and 

that Susan was taking sufficient credits to be considered full time. Under these 

conditions, she is considered in FTA for the second semester and through the summer 

period of non-attendance. 

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When a period of "resident training" is part of a correspondence course, the months 

during which the student is in such resident training may be months of FTA if the 

student's attendance meets the "20-hours per week test" referred to in FOM-1-515.10.1. 

The period of resident training need not be of 13 weeks' duration; however, the entire 

course (correspondence period and resident training) must be scheduled to last at least 

13 weeks. 

515.10.6 Confinement in Institutions at Public Expense due to Criminal Activity 

O/M benefits may be suspended or Tier 1 benefits are converted to all NSSEB effective 

with the month (including any part of the month) the beneficiary has been convicted of a 

criminal offense and is confined in an institution at public expense for more than 30 

continuous days or is one of the categories of cases defined in FOM1 150. 

515.10.7 On-line Courses 

Cases involving students taking on-line courses should be referred to P&S-RAC for 

handling. Before sending the case to P&S-RAC for handling the following information 

must be secured: 

	 Verification that the school is accredited by the state 

	 The length of the course study, 

	 The amount of time the student spends each week performing on-line study. 

	 Verification of time spent for on-line study. Secure a statement from the school 

official or the parent, if home schooled, 

	 The name of the educational institution that will administer the final exam, 

	 The type of certification that the student will receive (GED or Diploma), 

	 Name of Educational Institution that will issue the high school diploma or GED. 

	 A statement from the Educational Institution verifying that they will issue the high 

school diploma or GED 

515.10.8 Home Schooling 

Home schooling is a private educational program in which the student is taught within 

the home by a parent/teacher. It is a program of study completely by choice. A student 

schooled at home meets the FTA requirements if: 

	 The student meets the Federal standards for full-time attendance (FTA); 

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	 The law of the State in which the home school is located recognizes home school 

as an educational institution (EI); 

	 The home school the student attends meets the requirements of State law in 

which the home school is located; and 

	 The student meets all the other requirements for benefits. 

	 The school considers the student to be FTA based on home visits by a teacher 

and individual assigned study; and 

	 The student is expected to complete the course at the same time as student in 

actual students in actual physical attendance; and 

	 The student is expected to spend at least 20 hours per week consisting of 

tutoring by a visiting teacher and individual assigned study. 

515.15 Deemed Full-Time Attendance During A Period Of NonAttendance 

A period of non-attendance is any period, in which a student is not attending school, 

attending less than full-time, or attending a school that is not an EI. The period begins 

on the first day of the month after the last month in which the student was in FTA and 

ends on the last day of the month BEFORE the month in which he resumes FTA. 

A student who has been in FTA at an EI is deemed to be in FTA during a period of nonattendance if: 

	 The period of non-attendance is 4 calendar months or less; and 

	 The student shows intent to continue to be, or is in FTA at an EI immediately 

following the period of non-attendance. 

515.15.1 Establishing Intent to Resume FTA After Period of Non-Attendance 

A period of non-attendance is any period in which a student is not attending school, 

attending less than full-time, or attending a school that is not an EI. The period begins 

on the first day of the month after the last month in which the student was in FTA and 

ends on the last day of the month BEFORE the month in which he resumes FTA. 

Therefore, a student's entitlement can continue during summer vacation and other 

between-term periods even if he is actually out of school longer than 4 months. 

A student's intent to resume FTA is established if the student indicates plans to continue 

in FTA at the same school, unless there is evidence in file to contradict this. If he plans 

to attend a different school, and the school is an EI, payments can be made for the 

period of non-attendance. 

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If the student has applied or plans to apply for admission to a different school and it is 

not known whether the school is an EI, develop as explained in FOM-I-530.25. 

Do not deem a student in FTA for a period of non-attendance if he has no plans to 

resume FTA at an EI. If later notice is received that he has applied for admission, plans 

to apply for admission, or has resumed FTA at an EI, refer to FOM-I-530. If a child 

attains age 18 in a month which is in a period of non-attendance, you can deem FTA 

only if you obtain verification of FTA from the school he is currently attending or last 

attended on a Form G-315a even if he will attend a new school after the period of nonattendance. 

515.15.2 Effect of Suspension and Expulsion 

A student is considered to have been suspended for other than academic reasons or 

expelled when, as a result of any action on his part, he is barred from further class 

attendance. A student is not deemed to be in FTA during a period of non-attendance 

caused by his expulsion or suspension from school, even if he intends to, and actually 

does, resume FTA. 

The last month the student ordinarily is entitled is the month in which he was suspended 

or expelled. A student may become entitled again beginning with the month in which he 

resumes FTA at an EI. 

If the suspension was for academic reasons, the student is treated the same as one 

who has withdrawn from school. See FOM-I-515.15.3 immediately below. 

515.15.3 Deemed School Attendance 

If a school does not open on schedule at the start of the term or closes before 

completion of a term, the student may be deemed to be in FTS during the period of nonattendance if he has not been suspended or expelled and intended to be in FTA had the 

school been on schedule. 

515.15.4 Effect of Withdrawal 

A student who intends to resume FTA at an EI, but does not do so, may be deemed to 

be in full time attendance THROUGH THE MONTH IN WHICH HE CHANGES HIS 

INTENT. However, a student cannot be entitled for more than 4 months AFTER the last 

month he was in FTA. 

515.15.5 Terminating Event in Period of Non-Attendance 

If a termination event occurs during a period of non-attendance and the requirements 

for deemed attendance are met, the student is entitled for only the months PRIOR to the 

month in which the terminating event occurred. 

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Example 1 A retirement O/M student's high school classes ended on May 15. He will 

attain age 19 on August 3 and resume full-time attendance at the same high school on 

September 6. He is entitled through the month of July. 

Example 2 A survivor student's classes ended on May 15. He graduated on June 3. He 

is entitled through the month of June. 

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