<p>I've been wondering.. does the work-study aid require you to do the jobs the school listed or if i can pick my own job outside of the school system?</p>
<p>Also, if I work over the summer because I don't really want to work when school starts yet and I saved enough, can I use that money instead?</p>
<p>Last thing, if I work outside of the Work Study program, will it count towards my EFC if I don't work over what the federal work study program offered me?</p>
<p>I hope you can understand what I'm saying. Thank youu.</p>
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I've been wondering.. does the work-study aid require you to do the jobs the school listed or if i can pick my own job outside of the school system?
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You have to do a job specified to be a work study job or it does not count as work study. A large % of the WS salary is paid by the federal government which is why it comes under federal financial aid programs.
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Also, if I work over the summer because I don't really want to work when school starts yet and I saved enough, can I use that money instead?
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Yes you can use money from whatever source you choose. If you have been offered WS you have to find a WS job and you are paid an hourly wage. If you do not find a job you do not receive the WS money.
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Last thing, if I work outside of the Work Study program, will it count towards my EFC if I don't work over what the federal work study program offered me?
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It may. Work study earnings do not affect your EFC at all. When you complete FAFSA you must enter your total income (AGI) which will include WS earnings but then you deduct WS earnings on schedule C. Regular (non WS) earnings are entered on FAFSA and will be used in the EFC calculation - but you do have @ $3000 income protection so any earnings under $3000 will not affect your EFC - 50% of earnings over $3000 will go to your EFC. It does not matter if the 'outside' money you earned is not over the WS money - it is not WS money so it stays as part of your total earnings on FAFSA.</p>