Social Security Student Benefits (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Oct. 18, 1983 |
| Report Number |
IB81030 |
| Authors |
David Koitz, Education and Public Welfare Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
As part of his program for economic recovery President Reagan included aproposal to discontinue social security benefits for 18 to 22-year-oldstudents attending college or vocational school. Critics of the studentbenefit believe that other federally funded educational assistance programswhich tailor the amount of aid provided to actual educational costs andfamiiy income should be relied upon to help finance the college educations ofstudents who are children of retired, disabled, and deceased workers.Defenders of the student benefit say that it is not just educationalassistance, but basic income support intended to replace a part of the lostearnings of the parent upon which this student depended up until the time theparent retired, became disabled, or died.Both Houses of Congress approved a modified version of the President'sproposal as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, Signedinto law (P.L. 97-35) on Aug. 13, 1981.
