# Federal Work Study ## expand\_more ![students at working table](/sites/g/files/omnuum4451/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/student-employment-office/files/fwsp-378.jpg?itok=pQncB0j8) The Federal Work Study Program (FWSP) is a federally-funded financial aid program available to US citizens and permanent residents. The goal of the program is to assist students with the cost of their college education by providing a subsidy to employers for part-time student employment. The program is dependent on the student applying for financial aid through the FAFSA and qualifying based on their financial need. FWSP may be used during the summer, and eligibility is based on the FAFSA for the following school term. Visit the [Summer FWSP](/summer-fwsp) page for more information about using FWSP during summer break. FWSP comes with rules and regulations for [student](/student-fwsp-eligibility) and [employer eligibility](/fwsp-employer-eligibility). To comply with the law, the University has established guidelines and processes that must be followed by both students and employers. Many students are confused by the term ‘work-study’ and think that they are eligible for this benefit simply based on the grounds that they are working while studying at college. While all students are welcome to work during their time at Harvard, ‘work-study’ refers specifically to the federally-funded financial aid program designed to help students meet their education costs via subsidized hourly work. ## Frequently Asked Questions Open all sections Close all sections ### Can I have more than one job on Work Study? expand\_more Yes but the student will be asked to split their award between the multiple jobs. Be sure that they [register ](/fwsp-students-registration)all jobs with the Student Employment Office. ### How do I receive my Federal Work Study award? expand\_more Federal Work Study is **not** a lump sum grant. You are eligible to earn up to the dollar amount listed on your financial aid award letter over the course of the term-time or summer employment. You are not guaranteed this money, nor are you required to earn it all. If you would like to earn the dollar amount listed on your financial aid award letter, you need to find a job and work the appropriate amount of hours. You will receive the money in weekly paychecks based on your hourly wage and hours worked. In order to activate your Federal Work Study you must [register your job.](/fwsp-students-registration) with the student employment office. ### How much in work study earnings do I have remaining? expand\_more There is no easy way for you to check on your own. One possible method is to deduce the information from your paystub (found in PeopleSoft). But you may also ask your supervisor or email the [Student Employment Office](mailto:seofwsp@fas.harvard.edu). ### I don't see WST as a Time Reporting Code anymore. What now? expand\_more Report the time as REG so that there is no disruption in pay then contact the [Harvard Student Employment Office](mailto:seofwsp@fas.harvard.edu) to report the missing Time Reporting Code. ### I have a job offer, can I start working immediately? expand\_more Once you have been offered a job, please [register your FWSP job](/fwsp-students-registration) with the SEO. There are instructions for completing this form based on whether you will be working on or off-campus; you may want to speak with your employer before completing this as some of the information required is specific to their department or agency. Once the SEO receives and processes the form, a confirmation email authorizing work study will be sent to you and your supervisor. Be sure to read up on your [responsibilities as a student worker and how to be a good employee](/starting-new-job). ### Is my Work Study award just for the semester or for the whole academic year? expand\_more Your Federal Work Study award is for the full academic year so plan accordingly.