<p>I'm currently being hired at White Castle but I'm being told if I start working it would mess up my chances of getting financial aid..Is this true?</p>
<p>If you make over $6K in a calendar year, anything over than amount would be hit up 50% on the FAFSA EFC. If you have assets sitting anywhere on the day you are filling out your FAFSA, that amount whether it’s the $100 in your wallet, in your bank account, in whatever, is supposed to be reported and will be assessed a direct $20 (20%) towards your EFC. So, yes, it can effect your financial aid if you start earning that amount. However, work study pay does not count towards that amount, and any financial aid you have in an account does not count, so if you keep very careful records, that can help.</p>
<p>How much are you going to work? It’s very unlikely that you’d earn more than $6k between now and Dec 31. </p>
<p>How much will you work during the summer and how much will you work during school year?</p>
<p>Remember though, having $ in hand to pay for school (and potentially getting your FA decreased by some %age of that) is better than hoping your FA will be enough.</p>