I’m a returning sophomore at my college and because of a major change in living situation and financial need, (EFC went from rather high to 0) I receiving the federal pell grant this year, but not last year.
I’m a little confused though, because I still didn’t get work study.
Is this typical? Or should I contact my school and ask to speak to them about it?
I know work study is limited, but with a 0 EFC, I was sort of planning on it. I can obviously work to find a job off campus to supplement this if needed, but I’m just wondering why I didn’t get work study and if anyone else has had an experience like this before.
Same thing happened to me with a 0 EFC. It just happens that work study is really limited. Ask to get on a waiting list if you can. I ‘expected’ it too, and I realize I shouldn’t have. Pell is an entitlement and work study isn’t.
Contact your college, sometimes the funds (if available) have to be added in manually with an EFC change from one year to the other. Keep in mind that oftentimes funding for work study is limited, so it may not necessarily be available. However, your school’s financial aid office will be able to answer this for you.
As noted above…Pell is an entitlement. You get it if you are eligible.
Work study is not guaranteed for anyone, plus it is limited funding per college. It is usually awarded on a first come first served basis. It is very possible that work study funds ran out before your financial aid applications were received.
Next year, file your FAFSA on January 1 using estimates and a will file status. This puts you in the queue for limited funding types of aid like federal work study.