<p>I work at my university's geology department doing administrative and computer activities which I found during this year's work study fair. It was one of the highest paid work-studies there, but why is it still so low?!?</p>
<p>Does anyone have the same problem? Did I just not look at the right places for work-study? Is there any other legit way for me to supplement my income while being at school?</p>
<p>It has low pay because universities have only a limited amount of work study funds, and they have lots of needy students who would like to have work study jobs.</p>
<p>From what I have seen on S’s campus, work study jobs also pay more than regular university jobs. S doesn’t qualify for work study, so the jobs he has worked pay less than do the jobs his friends get through work study. So, count your blessings.</p>
<p>You always can look for off campus jobs…</p>
<p>"Is there any other legit way for me to supplement my income while being at school? "</p>
<p>If you can wait tables at a higher-class restaurant, or are old enough to be a cocktail server in a higher-class bar, those are often the best paying jobs available for students because of the tips. These jobs (especially cocktail server) are not for everyone.</p>
<p>And I believe work study earnings do not have to be listed on the fafsa as income. If you earn money at a non-work study job, you have to list it as income which then will increase your EFC.</p>
<p>^^^^</p>
<p>I don’t think that’s true if your parents income/EFC is under a certain amount. I think if the family’s income/EFC is very low, then the student can earn as much as he wants.</p>
<p>
This is only true for a student that qualifies for the automatic 0 EFC (requires parent AGI to be below $30k and some other criteria such as being eligible to file a 1040A/ez or having means tested federal benefits). If a student qualifies for an automatic 0 EFC then nothing else is considered (assets/untaxed income/student income etc), the EFC is automatically 0. For all other students, including those with low EFCs or even 0 EFC that is not automatic, their none WS income is considered and may affect the EFC. Dependent students have income protection of around $4500 for 2010-2011. 50% of income over protected income (and any allowances on income for taxes, FICA etc) goes to the EFC. So if you have non WS income above the protected income allowances (and don’t qualify for the automatic 0) then for every $1000 above the allowance your EFC will increase by 500. WS income will not affect your EFC at all.</p>
<p>WS income is taxable income for federal tax (and state taxes in our state, you’d have to check with your state) but FICA taxes do not have to be paid on them. FICA taxes are around 7% so for each $1000 in WS income you would not pay $70ish in FICA taxes which you would on non WS income. Also WS income does not affect your EFC. If you earn enough to file a tax return then the WS income would be reported on FAFSA as it is part of your AGI. But the EFC formula deducts the WS income from total income before it calculates your EFC.</p>
<p>You’re lucky you even got a work study job.
We have a job shortage this year and so many people with work study jobs didn’t even get one yet (including me).
I would find an off campus job except I don’t have a car and there’s really not much around the school.</p>
<p>Next year, next year! Since I will be commuting so I can probably find a job in my hometown instead.</p>
<p>My kids both have work study jobs, and their experience is that all the work study jobs at their schools pay the same. It’s not much per hour, but they both have jobs that they are happy with and working on campus, plus the understanding that their hours need be organized around their class schedule, all of that makes it much better than working an outside job.</p>
<p>What they earn is their only income for all personal expenses, travel, phones, etc. It isn’t a lot of money, though, and if they were also having to pay tuition or housing with it, they would definitely need some other work.</p>
<p>Swimcatsmom, is that dependent student income protection of $4500 exclusive of workstudy income? So a student could have $4500 or less in income, in addition to their work study earnings, and that would still be all protected?</p>
<p>Yes the protected income allowance is exclusive of WS income. If a student earned $4000 non WS income and $3400 WS income then their AGI (if there is no other income) would be $7400. The EFC formula deducts the WS income of $3400 from the AGI (it is reported elsewhere on FAFSA) leaving $4000. As the $4000 is below the protected income allowance it will have no affect on the EFC. </p>
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This must vary from school to school. At my daughter’s school the WS rates vary from job to job. The lowest seems to be minumu wage. Last year she had a lab job that was one of the higher paying jobs at her school at $9.30ish per hour. (it was actually an offcampus WS job at a govt lab).</p>
<p>Thank you for the info on the protected income allowance, SCM!</p>