In 1981, Congress voted to eliminate the “student benefit” of Social Security, which allowed for the continuation of child benefits past the age of 18 for those enrolled in schooling full-time. We compare the lifetime earnings of eligible children who turned 18 just before and after the benefit ended, with particular focus on the earnings differences among Black individuals.
The Effect of the Social Security Student Benefit on Lifetime Earnings
Kathryn Edwards, Melanie A. Zaber,2023