Parents of high school students turning 18 who receive Social Security benefits must be sure to check in with their local Social Security office to make sure the benefits continue beyond age 18 provided their recipient child is still in school. This information must be provided to the Social Security Administration. Otherwise, monthly Social Security benefits automatically stop when a student turns 18. In other words to receive benefits after 18, a student must continue in high school through graduation. Social Security does not stop benefits before the month the student turns 19 or the first month of which he or she is not a full time high school student, whichever is earlier.