Taxes
FWS money is TAXABLE INCOME. Your W-2 Form will be available for you to print from the
OMNI system in January to file your taxes. It is your responsibility to print your W2 form and
review the IRS regulations to determine if you need to file an income tax. If taxes were withheld
from your earnings, you may have a refund due - but you need to file a tax to claim your refund.
FAFSA
You should show Federal Work Study earnings on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA), included in your taxable income if you file a tax, or in your earnings if you are not
required to file. You will then need to report the Federal Work study earnings for the appropriate
tax year on Question 43-c - Additional Financial Information on the FAFSA. This excludes your
earnings from the calculation for Expected Family Contribution.
Work Hours
Work hours are arranged between you and your employer. Generally it takes 10-12 hours a
week to earn your award amount for a semester. You should not work over your award amount.
Work hours CANNOT interfere with your class hours.
Funds Transfer
You CANNOT transfer unearned money from one semester to another. Fall and Spring awards
are separate.
Monitor Earnings: for Students
Monitor your earnings so that you will not over earn your Federal Work Study award for the
semester. If you need help, your employer will help you. (Remember -- use your Gross earnings
to calculate what you have earned and what you have left to earn -- not your Net earnings).
Time sheet
Check with your supervisor on timesheet requirements. Departments may use paper or
electronic time entry.
Community Service students should check with the Federal Work Study office on how to process
their timesheets.