How to prove homeschooled teen qualifies for Social Security student benefits? SSA keeps rejecting forms!

Yes! I went through this exact nightmare last year. The key is getting the right person at SSA who understands homeschool laws in your state. You need to bring: 1. Your homeschool curriculum documentation 2. Any state notification forms you filed (if Texas requires them) 3. A detailed weekly schedule showing at least 20 hours of educational activities 4. A letter explaining how your homeschool functions as a private school under Texas law Make sure on the SSA-1372 that in the school official section, you sign as the administrator of your homeschool. In the name of school section, put something like "[Your Last Name] Family Homeschool" to make it look more official. Don't give up! They MUST accept homeschooling as valid for student benefits, but many SSA employees aren't trained on this specific situation.

my son gets survior benfits too and we homscool. had same problem last year. ssi office kept saying they need an "official" to sign the form. its so annyoing they dont know there own rules!!!! we had to drive 2 hours to a different ss office cuz the first place was useless.

I work with homeschooling families on legal issues, and this is unfortunately common. Social Security Policy Operations Manual System (POMS) section RS 00205.285 specifically addresses homeschooling and student benefits. Print this out and bring it with you: https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0300205285 Key points: - Homeschooled students DO qualify for student benefits - The parent/teacher is considered the school official - You need to show your instruction meets state requirements - You must demonstrate at least 20 hours of weekly instruction Texas has very relaxed homeschool laws, so just document your curriculum and schedule carefully. Be very specific about hours and subjects on the SSA-1372 form.

Same thing happened to us in Georgia!!! Social Security is HORRIBLE about homeschooled kids. We ended up losing 3 months of payments (over $5000!!!) while fighting with them about this. KEEP CALLING and KEEP FIGHTING. They will eventually process it correctly, but you have to be PERSISTENT. We finally got a supervisor who fixed everything, but it took FOREVER. So frustrating how they treat homeschool families like we're trying to commit fraud or something.

Have you tried contacting your states homeschool association? Texas Homeschool Coalition I think? They probably deal with this all the time and might have specific advice for Texas residents.

I had the worst time getting through to anyone at Social Security to help with this exact issue last year. After getting disconnected four times and spending hours on hold, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual person at SSA in about 20 minutes. They have a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Once I actually talked to someone, I explained the homeschool situation and referenced the POMS guidelines another commenter mentioned. Still took two tries, but we got it straightened out. The phone service made it SO much easier than waiting on hold for hours.

my niece is homeschooled and gets benefits. my sister had to submit 1. attendance records 2. grades 3. curriculum outline. dont give up! your approved in texas as a homeschooler so SS has to accept it they just make it harder than it needs to be.

Just wanted to add - make sure you're specific about the courses she's taking on the form. List actual subjects like "Algebra II" rather than just "Math" and "American Literature" rather than just "English." This helps show it's a legitimate educational program. Also, if she does any dual enrollment with community college courses or online programs, definitely include those details!

And DOCUMENT EVERYTHING! Every phone call, every person you talk to, every form you submit - write it all down with dates and names. I wish I had done this from the beginning with our situation. When you finally get someone helpful, having a detailed timeline of all your attempts makes a huge difference in getting back benefits if they've been incorrectly suspended.

One more important tip: Social Security requires that student benefits recipients be full-time students. For homeschoolers, this means at least 20 hours per week of instruction time. Make sure your documentation clearly shows she meets or exceeds this requirement. Include study time, research projects, field trips, and other educational activities in your hourly calculations.

I'm a former SSA employee and this is unfortunately way too common. The training on homeschool benefits is practically nonexistent at most field offices. Here's what I recommend: 1. Request to speak with a Claims Specialist, not just a front desk representative 2. Ask them to reference POMS RS 00205.285 (which Sofia mentioned) - if they don't know what POMS is, ask for a supervisor 3. In Texas, homeschools are legally considered private schools, so emphasize this on your SSA-1372 4. Create an "official" letterhead for your homeschool with your name as "Administrator" or "Principal" 5. If they still deny it, file an appeal immediately - appeals often get reviewed by more knowledgeable staff The $1,875/month you're receiving suggests your husband had substantial earnings, so this benefit is definitely worth fighting for. Don't let undertrained staff cost your family thousands of dollars. You have every legal right to these benefits as long as your daughter meets the educational requirements, which she clearly does. Stay persistent and don't take no for an answer from someone who doesn't understand the law!

I'm going through something similar right now with my 16-year-old son in California. We've been homeschooling for 4 years and SSA is giving us the runaround too. What really helped us was creating a formal "school record" binder with everything organized like a traditional school would have - transcripts, attendance records, course descriptions, and even a school calendar. I also made sure to use official-sounding language on all forms and correspondence. One thing that seemed to make a difference was getting our homeschool registered with a local homeschool support group that issues "diplomas" and keeps records. Even though it's not required by law, having that third-party documentation seemed to carry more weight with the SSA staff. They kept asking for "official" records and this helped bridge that gap. Also, if you haven't already, try calling first thing in the morning (like 8 AM) when they open - the wait times are usually shorter and you might get someone who's more helpful before they get overwhelmed with calls. Good luck - don't give up! Your daughter deserves those benefits and you're doing everything right.

I went through this exact same situation with my daughter in Florida about 6 months ago. The key is being super organized and treating your homeschool like the legitimate educational institution it legally is. Here's what finally worked for me: Create a complete "school portfolio" including: - A formal transcript with course titles, credit hours, and grades - Daily attendance records (even if it's just checking off days) - Detailed curriculum outlines for each subject - A weekly schedule showing 25+ hours of instruction time - Any standardized test scores or portfolio assessments The game-changer was when I created official letterhead for "[Last Name] Academy" and signed the SSA-1372 as "Director of Education." I also included a cover letter explaining that our homeschool operates as a private school under state law, which is completely accurate. It took three submissions, but they finally approved it. The third time I hand-delivered everything to the local office and asked to speak with a supervisor. Having all the documentation professionally organized seemed to convince them we weren't just "playing school" at home. Don't let them intimidate you - your daughter has every right to those benefits as long as she's receiving a legitimate education, which she clearly is! The law is on your side, you just need to present it in a way that matches their bureaucratic expectations.

I'm a homeschooling parent in Arizona and went through this same nightmare two years ago with my 17-year-old daughter's survivor benefits. What finally worked for us was getting our state homeschool association involved - they actually have template letters specifically for SSA situations and can provide documentation that your homeschool is operating legally under state law. The Arizona Families for Home Education helped me draft a letter that explained exactly how homeschools function as private schools under our state statutes. They also provided a sample "school verification form" that I filled out as the school administrator. When I submitted this along with the SSA-1372, it was approved within two weeks. I'd strongly recommend contacting the Texas Home School Coalition (thsc.org) - they probably deal with this issue regularly and will have state-specific advice and templates. They might even be able to connect you with other Texas families who've successfully navigated this process. Also, one thing that helped me was creating a simple one-page "School Information Sheet" that included our homeschool name, my title as Principal/Administrator, our school address (home address), phone number, and a brief statement about meeting Texas education requirements. I attached this to every form I submitted to make it look more official. Don't give up! Your daughter absolutely qualifies for these benefits and you shouldn't have to lose that monthly payment because SSA staff aren't properly trained on homeschool law.

I'm a homeschooling mom in Oklahoma and just went through this exact same battle with SSA last month for my 16-year-old son's survivor benefits. After two rejections and countless frustrating phone calls, here's what finally worked: I created a complete "school file" that included: - Official transcript on letterhead with course names, credit hours, and grades - Attendance records showing 180+ school days - Detailed curriculum descriptions for each subject - Weekly schedule demonstrating 25+ hours of instruction - Copy of our state notification (Oklahoma requires filing) - A formal letter explaining that homeschools operate as private schools under state law The key was presenting everything professionally and using official language throughout. I signed the SSA-1372 as "School Administrator" of "[Family Name] Home Academy" and made sure all documentation looked as official as possible. What really made the difference was printing out POMS RS 00205.285 (the Social Security policy manual section about homeschooling) and highlighting the relevant parts about parent-teachers being considered school officials. When I brought this to the SSA office and asked to speak with a supervisor, they approved it that same day. Your daughter absolutely qualifies for these benefits - don't let undertrained staff deny what she's legally entitled to! The $1,875/month is worth fighting for. Stay persistent and document everything!

I'm dealing with a similar situation in Pennsylvania for my 15-year-old daughter's survivor benefits. After reading all these responses, I realize I've been making the same mistakes - being too casual with my documentation and not emphasizing that our homeschool operates as a private school under state law. What's really frustrating is that SSA seems to have zero training on homeschool regulations. The representative I spoke with last week actually asked me "But who's your principal?" When I said I am, she acted like I was making it up! I'm going to try the approach several of you mentioned - creating official letterhead, signing as "School Administrator," and bringing the POMS policy printout directly to a supervisor. It's ridiculous that we have to become experts in Social Security policy just to prove our kids deserve the benefits they're legally entitled to. For anyone else dealing with this, I found that the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) also has resources about SSA student benefits. They have a specific fact sheet that explains the legal requirements and can provide documentation that your homeschool meets federal standards. Don't give up fighting for your kids! These benefits can make or break a family budget, and we shouldn't lose them just because SSA staff don't understand homeschooling laws.

I'm currently going through this exact same situation with my 16-year-old son's survivor benefits here in Michigan! After reading through all these incredibly helpful responses, I'm realizing I've been making a lot of the same mistakes - submitting incomplete documentation and not presenting our homeschool professionally enough. What really struck me was the advice about creating official letterhead and signing as "School Administrator" - I've been signing as just "parent" which probably looked unprofessional to them. I'm also going to print out that POMS policy section that several people mentioned and bring it directly to a supervisor instead of dealing with front desk staff who clearly aren't trained on homeschool laws. It's so frustrating that we have to jump through all these hoops when homeschooling is completely legal and our kids are getting excellent educations! But I'm encouraged by all the success stories here - it sounds like persistence and proper documentation really do pay off. Thank you to everyone who shared their specific strategies and resources. Reading about families who successfully got through this process gives me hope that we can too. The Texas Home School Coalition and HSLDA resources mentioned here sound like they could be game-changers for getting the right documentation together. Our benefits are $1,650/month so this is definitely worth fighting for. I'm not giving up!

I'm a homeschooling parent in North Carolina and successfully got my 17-year-old daughter's survivor benefits approved after initially being rejected twice. The breakthrough came when I realized I needed to present our homeschool exactly like any other private school would. Here's my winning strategy: 1. Created professional letterhead for "[Family Name] Private Academy" 2. Developed a comprehensive school catalog with course descriptions, graduation requirements, and grading policies 3. Signed the SSA-1372 as "Head of School" rather than parent/teacher 4. Included a formal school calendar showing 180+ instructional days 5. Provided detailed weekly schedules demonstrating 25+ hours of structured learning time The key was walking into the SSA office with a thick binder of documentation and asking to speak directly with a Claims Specialist. I brought printed copies of POMS RS 00205.285 and politely explained that homeschools operating under state private school statutes (which most do) absolutely qualify for student benefits. When the specialist seemed uncertain, I asked for a supervisor and calmly walked through the federal policy requirements. They approved it on the spot and even apologized for the previous confusion. Your daughter's $1,875/month benefit is substantial - don't let undertrained staff cost your family nearly $23,000 per year! The law is completely on your side. Stay professional, stay persistent, and demand to speak with people who understand the policy. You've got this!

I'm a homeschooling parent in Virginia and just went through this same ordeal with my 15-year-old son's survivor benefits. After two rejections and months of frustration, I finally got approved last month using many of the strategies mentioned here. The absolute game-changer was creating what I called a "School Administrative Package" that included: - Official letterhead with "[Family Name] Christian Academy" - A formal letter of enrollment signed by me as "School Principal" - Detailed transcripts showing specific course titles (like "Honors Biology" instead of just "Science") - A master schedule grid showing 22+ hours of weekly instruction across all subjects - Copies of any dual enrollment or co-op documentation But here's what I think made the biggest difference: I brought a cover letter that specifically cited Virginia homeschool law (§ 22.1-254) explaining that religious exemption homeschools operate with the same legal authority as private schools. I included the exact statute language about parents having "the right to determine the curriculum" and referenced the POMS section everyone mentioned. When I presented this package to a supervisor at our local SSA office, she immediately understood that we weren't asking for special treatment - we were demonstrating compliance with existing federal policy for private school students. The monthly benefit of $1,420 was too important to our family budget to give up. To anyone still fighting this - don't let them make you feel like you're doing something wrong. Homeschooling is legal, our kids are getting quality educations, and they deserve every penny of their survivor benefits!

I'm a homeschooling parent in Colorado and successfully navigated this exact situation with my 16-year-old daughter's survivor benefits about 8 months ago. After reading through everyone's experiences here, I wanted to add a few additional tips that really helped us get approved on our third attempt. Beyond all the excellent documentation advice already shared, here are some specific things that made a difference for us: 1. **Timing matters**: I scheduled an in-person appointment rather than just walking in or calling. This gave me a dedicated time slot with a staff member who wasn't rushed or distracted by other customers. 2. **Created a "School Profile"**: Similar to what public schools submit to colleges, I made a one-page overview of our homeschool including our educational philosophy, accreditation status under Colorado law, and typical graduate outcomes. 3. **Used education terminology**: Instead of saying "my daughter does math at home," I wrote "Student is enrolled in Algebra II through [Family Name] Academy's mathematics department." Small language changes like this made a huge difference in how seriously they took our program. 4. **Brought a witness**: I took my husband with me as a "co-administrator" of our school. Having two adults there seemed to add credibility to our presentation. The key insight from our experience: present your homeschool exactly like you would if you were running a small private school - because legally, that's exactly what you are doing! Colorado recognizes homeschools as private schools, and I'm sure Texas law is similar. Our monthly benefit is $1,340, so this was definitely worth the effort. Don't give up - your daughter deserves these benefits and you're doing everything right by advocating for her!

I'm a homeschooling parent in Nevada and just successfully got my 17-year-old son's survivor benefits approved after a 4-month battle with SSA. Reading through all these experiences, I'm amazed at how universal this problem is - it's clear that SSA staff nationwide need better training on homeschool laws! What finally worked for us was combining several of the strategies mentioned here: **The Documentation Package:** - Professional letterhead for "[Family Name] Educational Institute" - Signed SSA-1372 as "Educational Director" - Comprehensive transcript with specific course titles (AP Chemistry, World History Honors, etc.) - Weekly schedule showing 28 hours of instruction time - Nevada homeschool compliance letter explaining our legal status as a private school **The Game-Changer:** I printed out POMS RS 00205.285 and highlighted the key sections, then created a simple "Policy Reference Sheet" explaining how our homeschool meets each federal requirement. When I presented this to a Claims Specialist (not front desk staff!), they understood immediately that we weren't asking for exceptions - we were demonstrating compliance. **Pro Tip:** I also brought a letter from our local homeschool support group confirming our enrollment and good standing. Even though it wasn't legally required, having that third-party validation seemed to reassure the SSA staff. The whole process was frustrating and shouldn't be necessary, but our $1,290/month benefit was worth every effort. To everyone still fighting - don't give up! The law is absolutely on your side. Document everything, present professionally, and demand to speak with supervisors or Claims Specialists who actually understand federal policy. You've got this!

I'm a homeschooling parent in Washington state and went through this exact same nightmare with my 16-year-old daughter's survivor benefits just 6 months ago. After reading all these incredibly detailed success stories, I wanted to add one more strategy that really helped us get over the finish line. Beyond all the excellent documentation advice already shared, what made the biggest difference was creating what I called a "Federal Compliance Checklist" that I attached to our SSA-1372 form. I literally took the POMS RS 00205.285 requirements and created a simple checklist showing how our homeschool met each criterion: ✓ Student receives at least 20 hours weekly instruction - [attached detailed schedule showing 25 hours] ✓ Instruction provided by qualified individual - [parent certification and background] ✓ Educational program meets state requirements - [Washington homeschool law reference] ✓ Parent serves as school official - [signed as "Academic Director"] This visual format seemed to make it immediately clear to the SSA staff that we weren't guessing about requirements - we had systematically addressed every federal criterion. The Claims Specialist actually commented that she wished more families presented their information this clearly! Our monthly benefit of $1,485 was absolutely worth the fight. To the original poster - Texas has some of the most homeschool-friendly laws in the country, so you're in a strong position legally. Don't let undertrained staff deny what your daughter is rightfully entitled to. With all these proven strategies from fellow homeschooling families, I'm confident you'll get this resolved soon!