<p>If we decline the Federal Work Study this year (Freshman) will it be offered again next year if we still meet the guidelines? Does declining it make it never offered again? I really don't want my son to work his freshman year.</p>
<p>Check with your school. At my daughter’s school declining WS the first year does not prevent you from getting it the next year. But a student recently posted that they declined it their first year and then wanted it the next year and were told they would not be considered for it because they declined it first time. </p>
<p>We did ask before she declined it first year. They told us there would be no penalty for declining it and they in fact preferred her to do so if she was not going to use it, so they could re award it. Sure enough, the next year she was awarded it again (and did use it that time).</p>
<p>I subscribe to the “use it or lose it” theory; if you get out of line it is tough getting your place back in the line. If the aid officer sees that you got by for a year without using the work study, they may reason that you don’t really need it and give it to someone they think needs it more than you. Work study might mean working as few as 6 hrs/wk giving your son maybe $60 for pocket money each week that might make the few hours of work worth it.</p>
<p>Don’t decline it is my advice. If your son doesn’t locate a job no payments will be triggered. If you decline it there is always a possibility it won’t come back. Also, he may have a successful fall semester and decide he’d like to have some extra spending money in the spring. There is no downside to accepting work/study. </p>
<p>On the other hand if it makes you feel more comfortable, you could ask the college specifically about their policies in future years which might make you feel better about declining this year. The colleges may respond differently on work/study and the decline or don’t decline advice.</p>
<p>I am going to call the school today but I am new to this whole thing so I have another question I hope you good people can answer. If we accept work/study - I assume that the money they are indicating it is worth (3K) is differred? Ok - so then let’s say he does not get a job - then what? When would that money be due?</p>
<p>If you don’t get the job for work study, you don’t get the money. If you were offered 3,000 as federal work study, but your son doesn’t get a job, nothing comes from that money.</p>
<p>I would agree that you should not decline it. Your son might, in fact, find a job that he likes and has time for, even in the second semester. If you accept it and he just does not find a job, nothing is lost. Declining it is final, at least for the first year. Don’t burn any bridges. Accepting it does not obligate him, since it is he who must do the job search.</p>
<p>My D was offered work study 2 of the 3 years she has been in school. She didn’t work fall semester freshman year (had mono mostly, but wanted to see how things went) She did get a job spring semester freshman year and loved it. It was a nice break for her. She was very disappointed that they didn’t award it soph year. But she was awarded work study this year. Thing were fine fall semester but she doesn’t have time this semester. She kept her job though and will work when she has time. That is the beauty of work study for her. She found a job that she can work when her workload isn’t overwhelming. It’s perfect for her.</p>
<p>Federal Work-study money is paid out periodically like a job to provide “pocket money” for your son. Therefore, if you accept it, but don’t get a job, it just means that he won’t have “pocket money” from W/S. If you choose to give him pocket money, that’s your business.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>Accept it, but don’t look for a job.</p>
<p>I’m sure it works differently in every college but as a possible story for the OP. S1 is paid when the college employees get paid on the 15th and 30th. S2 lost his work/study when the funds were rescinded when he received a local scholarship…he begged and begged to get it back and there was a lengthy waiting list at his college to receive work/study. It’s quite popular these days. Remember to send a birth certificate or passport to college with your students if they are going to potentially go into a work/study job or any job for the I-9 that employers have to confirm and fill out.</p>