<p>The work study money goes directly to you, so you determine where it goes.</p>
<p>If you got work study, do you have to use it?</p>
<p>The work study money does go directly to you, but if part of your work-study award is supposed to go toward paying tuition and fees or a "fixed amount" something or other like housing, it isn't really discretionary spending unless you'd like to take out a loan to cover that amount.</p>
<p>If you get a work-study award, you don't have to use it; it's in your best interests to accept it, really, unless you want to negotiate with the financial aid office to replace it with, say, loans or something.</p>