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Federal Work-Study

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Federal Work Study Program

Work-Study jobs encourage community service work and work related to the your course of study.

Federal Work-Study provides part-time jobs for students with financial need. The program encourages community service work and work related to your field of study. To receive funds, you’ll need to be awarded work-study and secure a job.

This program uses federal funds to provide eligible students with up to 19 hours a week of paid employment. You must use the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to apply for this program.

Your application will be used to calculate an “Expected Family Contribution” or EFC. You may be offered a work-study award if you unmet need. You can check with our financial aid staff to see if you are eligible for this program.

Start your job search early so you have time to research the different jobs available. Each work-study job has a different pay rate and gives you a different kind of work experience. Make sure to think ahead about what type of job will meet your needs and goals. 

While you are in this program, you must be taking at least six units and demonstrate satisfactory academic progress as described on our Maintaining Eligibility webpage.

Federal Work Study FAQs

No, you can turn down the offer. The dollar amount offered is the maximum that you would be eligible to earn in a Federal Work-Study position for the academic year, if you decided to accept the offer and were hired in a Federal Work-Study job.

You need to select "I'm interested in work-study" when you complete your FAFSA application. You also need to complete your Foothill financial aid documents. You will want to do this well in advance of the academic year because Federal Work-Study is awarded on a first-come, first served basis.

We are often out of funds by June of the preceding academic year. Once you receive a Federal Work-Study offer for the academic year, you will need to follow the instructions that accompany that award. That includes meeting with Financial Aid to find a job and have your award accepted. Be sure to pay close attention to deadlines for accepting your award.

Yes. The wages you earn from Federal Work-Study are generally reported as wages on your Federal and California income tax return and become part of your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). (Those wages are, however, exempt from FICA Social Security taxes.)
Yes. You include the money earned from a Federal Work-Study job for the calendar year requested on the FAFSA under money "earned from working." To enable the FAFSA processors to exclude money earned from a Federal Work-Study job when calculating your income and award, you will also list your Federal Work-Study earnings on the FAFSA under Step Two: Student's Additional Financial Information.
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Building 8100, Room 8101
 (650) 949-7245
fhfinancialaidoffice@fhda.edu

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Mon – Thur: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (In Person)
Fri: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Virtual)

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