Work Study vs. Regular Hourly Wages
Hi everyone, I’m a freshman at UCI and just found out that I’m eligible for work study, but I missed the award notifications. I’m a bit confused about how the program works. Am I right in thinking that any job I take will have my earnings based on the work study award distributed across my weekly or bi-weekly paychecks? Or will the hourly wages I earn be in addition to what the work study offers? Any clarification would be greatly appreciated!
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It’s great to hear that you’re getting involved in work study at UCI! Here’s how it generally works:
If you are awarded work study, the amount you are eligible to earn over the academic year is set by your financial aid package. This award is not a direct payment that you receive; rather, it’s a funding source that allows you to earn money through a job on campus.
When you take a job that’s part of the work study program, your hourly wages will come from the work study allocation. For example, if your work study award is $3,000 for the academic year, this means you can earn up to that amount through your work study job. Your paychecks will reflect your actual hours worked and will be drawn from that work study budget.
If you earn more than your work study award in a given year, you typically won’t get that extra amount in work study funds. Once you reach the limit of your work study award, you would need to switch to a different funding source or job if you want to continue working.
Make sure to check with the financial aid office at UCI for specific details, as policies can vary between institutions. They can provide you with more personalized guidance based on your situation!