Federal Work Study FAQs

1. What is Federal Work Study (FWS)?

Federal Work Study is a financial aid program funded jointly by the U.S. Federal Government and your work study employer. Your work study employer is either an office at GW or an off-campus non-profit agency that has been pre-approved as an FWS employer by GW.

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2. How do I obtain Federal Work Study funds?

You must meet federal eligibility requirements to receive a FWS award. The FWS award is part of the overall financial aid package offered to eligible students by the GW Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA). The Career Center is not involved in the determination of who receives FWS funds. You must officially accept your FWS award either by going to the OSFA or online through your GWeb account before you can begin working in a FWS job.

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3. How do I find FWS jobs?

There are three main ways to find a FWS job:
a) View the FWS openings on GW's online listing service, GWork, at http://gwired.gwu.edu/career/
b) Attend the Federal Work Study Job Fair, which are typically held at the begining of each semester.
c) Contact on-campus departments directly if you have an interest in working there. The employer must have signed a FWS agreement with the Career Center before they can employ you as a FWS student. Ask the employer!

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4. Will I definitely find a FWS job?

Usually, there are more FWS jobs available than there are students seeking these jobs. If you start your search early in the semester, you should have many jobs to choose from. As the academic year progresses, employers fill their jobs and you will have fewer and fewer choices as time goes on.

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5. What kind of job will I get?

FWS jobs vary widely. Carefully evaluate what you hope to gain from your FWS experience and choose the job that best meets your needs and class schedule. This could be the first step on your path to a career.

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6. I've accepted a FWS job offer. Now what do I do?

Come to the Career Center and get an Employment Forms Packet. Complete the tax forms and the I-9 form inside. Obtain an Employment Authorization Form (EAF) from the Career Center and sign your part. Bring the signed EAF and I-9 receipt to your employer.

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7. When can I start working at my FWS job?

You can start working during the first day of classes and not before. You cannot start working unless you have accepted your FWS award, completed your tax forms and I-9 form at the Career Center, obtained and signed your EAF, and given your employer the signed EAF and one of your I-9 receipts. Your employer must then submit the hiring paperwork to the Career Center. Ask your employer when the paperwork is submitted so that you know when you can start working.

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8. How long will it be until I get paid?

It can take between 4-6 weeks to receive your first paycheck. Make sure you have completed all forms and that your employer submits all hiring paperwork to the Career Center. Failure to do so will result in further delays. GW issues checks two weeks after you work the hours.  Check the GW Payroll Calendar for pay dates. Sign up for direct deposit at the Career Center. This will speed the receipt of your funds and prevent checks from getting lost or stolen.

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9. Do I have to pay FWS money back? How can I spend it?

No. You do not pay back the money you earn. You can spend it on any education-related expense.

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