Work Study Questions & Procedures
- What is the Federal Work Study (FWS) Program?
- How much will I make?
- Are FWS jobs on or off campus?
- Found a qualifying FWS job? Now what?
- How many credits must I maintain to keep FWS?
- What about my unused FWS Award?
- How will I be paid?
- How do I get a FWS Job?
- Will any job qualify for FWS?
- Can I work as many hours as I want?
- Are my FWS funds exhausted?
- Can I get more FWS Funds?
What is the Federal Work Study (FWS) Program?
Federal Work Study Program provides jobs for undergrad and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay educational expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to the student's course of study.
Work Study eligibility will be included on a student's financial aid award letter. Students should be aware that additional eligibility may be available. If not originally awarded FWS, students may be able to adjust existing awards in order to include FWS. An award does not guarantee a student a job or that he/she will be able to earn the full amount of his/her eligibility.
Income earned through the FWS program is included in the Title IV Exclusions on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This means that these funds will not be included in the formula used to compute a student's eligibility for Federal Financial Aid the next year.
How much will I make?
Your FWS salary will be the current federal minimum wage ($5.15). Your total FWS Award depends on when you apply, your level of need, and the funding level of your school. You can only earn up to the total amount of your award.
How will I be paid?
If you are an undergraduate, you'll be paid by the hour. If you are a graduate student, you may be paid by the hour or you may receive a salary. No Federal Work Study student may be paid by commission or contract. You will be required to submit in a time card to ISU payroll which will pay you directly every other Friday (See Time Card Information for submission and pay roll dates.)
How do I get a work study job?
It is your responsibility to obtain a FWS position. See the Financial Aid Office or Student Employment to review a hard copy listing of jobs available. You can also access this information via Financial Aid Job Listings.
Are FWS jobs on or off campus?
Both. If you work on campus, you will work for your school. If you work off campus, your employer will usually be a private, non-profit organization or a public agency, and the work performed must be in the public interest. Whether on campus or off campus, the employer must have been qualified through our office by allocation and/or contract. Not just any job will qualify for Federal Work Study.
Will any job qualify for Work study?
NO! The employer must be qualified through our office by allocation and/or contract. The employer will usually be a private or public, non-profit organization or a school department.
Found a qualifying FWS Job? Now what?
- Your employer must report to the Financial aid Office, your name, social security number, the department and supervisor who has employed you on the on-line position description form.
- Go to ISU Human Resource Office in the Administration Building, to sigh up for payroll. You must complete the W-4 and I-9. A student may not work for a department until this is completed.
- Give your department your social security number, as the employer must turn in a position description with your name and social security number to meet federal requirements.
- Any reduction in your FWS must be reported to employer by the student.
Can I work as many hours as I want?
No. The amount you earn cannot exceed your total Federal Work Study Award. When assigned work hours, your employer or Financial Aid Administrator will consider your call schedule and your academic progress.
Students may be paid on the FWS Program for a maximum of 20 hours per week (a maximum of 40 hours per week during breaks.) Federal Regulations mandate students can NOT work more than 8 hours per day, or 40 hours per seven-day week. Overtime will NOT be paid through the FWS Program account.
How many credits must I maintain to keep FWS?
You must be enrolled and attending at ISU a minimum of six credits.
Are my FWS funds exhausted?
Both the student and employer share the responsibility of monitoring FWS earnings to ensure the FWS Award limit is not exceeded. The student should keep all check stubs so total gross earnings may be monitored. The student may also consult her/his employer or the Financial aid Office to obtain information regarding these earnings. when the student is within $200 of the maximum earnings limit, the employer may consider an alternate plan to cover the student's work assignment. At this time. the student may decide to meet with her/his financial aid counselor to discuss available options.
What about my unused FWS Award?
The student is awarded a maximum FWS earning limit based on financial need. She/he may earn any portion of the award up to the established maximum but is not obligated to earn the full amount of the award. Unused work study earnings cannot be carried over from one employment period to the next academic year or to summer session. Unearned work study funds will not be made up by other sources of aid. (In certain cases, unearned FWS may be transferred as a loan if she/he has remaining loan eligibility for the school year. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information.)
Can I get more FWS funds?
Adjustment to FWS allocations can be made if an applicant's financial need allows for an increase and funds are available to finance the increase.
The employer and employee should consider the time requirement of the student's FWS job in relation to the student's pay rate and FWS allocation for the entire academic year. If it appears that the allocation will be exhausted, before the time required by the position elapses, then a request may be made for an increase.
The student may request and increase in financial aid when she/he is close to earning the full award. Application for this increase can by made to the Financial Aid Office.