Printing - FECA-PT2 - National Association of Letter Carriers

(2) A year of entitlement based on student status means any year during all or part of
which compensation is paid based on school attendance. Therefore, if a beneficiary should
decide for any reason not to attend school for part of a year during which benefits were paid
on account of student status, that beneficiary would be charged with having used an entire
year of eligibility out of the allotted four years, even though compensation terminates when
the beneficiary leaves school. If a child has already completed one or two more years of
college before turning 18, they would be deducted from the four years of entitlement.
(3) If the child does not begin post high school education immediately but later decides
to enter school full-time, compensation would begin on the date school attendance began,
as stated in (1)(b) above. In this situation, the individual would remain entitled to four
years of compensation based on school attendance, provided he or she did not turn 23.
In either case, compensation is continued during any interval between school terms which
does not exceed four months if the beneficiary demonstrates a bona fide intent to continue
in school the following year. In the absence of specific contrary evidence, the CE may
consider the student's decision to begin or continue full-time studies a bona fide statement
of intent.
(4) Where a student is prevented by reasons beyond his or her control (such as brief
but incapacitating illness) from continuing in school, compensation may be continued for a
period of reasonable duration. However, any such period would be counted toward the four
years of entitlement. The CE will determine what constitutes "reasons beyond the control"
of the beneficiary and decide what may be considered a period of reasonable duration
during which compensation may be continued. The CE will also place a memorandum in the
file outlining the circumstances of the case and the reasons for the decision.
(5) The CE should periodically obtain proof of student status. See PM 2-812.5b
concerning release of Forms CA-1615 and CA-1617. If the beneficiary is still receiving
student benefits on turning 23, compensation should terminate at the end of that semester
or enrollment period.
b. Marriage of Child. A dependent child's eligibility for benefits terminates on the date of the
child's marriage. A child whose marriage ended prior to the beginning of disability will not be
barred from receiving benefits if otherwise entitled. A child whose marriage is annulled after the
employee's death is eligible for benefits from the effective date of the annulment or the date the
claimant became eligible for disability benefits (see FECA Program Memorandum No. 4) if otherwise
entitled, but a child who is divorced or widowed is not eligible for benefits.
c. Children Over 18 Who are Incapable of Self-Support. When claims are made by or for
children over 18 who are physically or mentally incapable of self-support, the CE must investigate
the extent and expected duration of the illness involved.
(1) Eligibility. To be entitled to benefits, a child over 18 must have been incapable of
self-support by reason of a mental or physical disability at the time the claimant became
FECA-PT2 Printed: 06/08/2010 370