Federal Work-Study

Federal work-study is a Federal Grant that allows students to earn funding via a bi-weekly paycheck to help cover non-billable educational expenses. Federal work-study funding does not get applied towards tuition and fees. You must work an approved work-study position to earn the funding. To qualify, you must have a valid FAFSA on file and qualify for Title IV Federal Aid. You must also demonstrate unmet financial need as defined by the FAFSA application. Work-study is included on your financial aid offer if you qualify for this need-based fund. You can view this via the Cost & Aid tab of TUPortal. You must accept or decline the offer within the Costs and Aid tab of the TUportal. 

Work Study Contacts

Main Campus Undergraduate & Graduate Students

wkstudy@temple.edu

Lewis Katz School of Medicine

sfsmed@temple.edu

Pharmacy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, & Dental students (HSC):

sfshsc@temple.edu

Podiatry

sfspod@temple.edu

Beasley School of Law

lwfinaid@temple.edu

What do students need to know about Federal Work Study?

Eligibility Criteria

To receive a federal work study offer, you must:

  1. Have a demonstrated financial need as a result of filing the FAFSA
  2. Submit all financial aid requirements in order for a determination to be made regarding eligibility. 
  3. Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
  4. Be eligible for Title IV ( Federal) Aid funding to qualify for Federal Workstudy. 
  5. Be a matriculated student and currently enrolled to continue to work under the Federal Workstudy Program. 
  6. A Federal Workstudy Grant must fit into the Cost of Attendance Budget for the semester/year. All aid cannot exceed the Cost of Attendance Budget. Students can view their Cost of Attendance Budget via the Cost & Aid tab of TUPortal. 
    1. Note: Borrowing a significant amount of Parent Plus Loan or Private Loan funding could affect your eligibility for a Federal Workstudy grant if your Cost of Attendance budget is at it's maximum.)
Program Guidelines

Guidelines for receiving federal work study include:

  • You are restricted to worked 20 hours per week. You cannot work during scheduled class time. 
  • You can only receive pay for hours worked. Federal Workstudy Students are not eligible for paid sick leave, holidays, or vacation days. 
  • You cannot utilize the Federal Workstudy funds outside of Temple University, unless it is an approved site authorized by Student Financial Services. 
  • You must utilize your Federal Workstudy offer during the semester it is granted. We cannot roll over funding from one semester to another. 
  • Federal Workstudy Grant eligibilty can change from semester to semester based on Federal Aid eligibility. 
  • You should not exceed the amount of Federal Workstudy grant for each particular semester. If youare running low on funding you can email us at  to have your account reviewed.
  • If you are interested in receiving Federal Workstudy for the Summer Session, contact our office at end of April. We do not auto-post Summer workstudy funding.
  • Federal Regulations stipulate that a portion of your summer earnings during a period of non-attendance must be allocated to meet educational expenses for the upcoming academic year. 
  • Students who interact with minors must receive all proper clearances prior to beginning any Federal Work-study employment. 
Obtaining Employment

On-Campus Employment

  • On-campus Work-Study jobs are all posted on the Careers@Temple link on TUPortal.
  • If a employer/department hires a student without confirming the student's eligibility for Federal Work-Study, the employer/department  will be responsible for all wages the student has earned. 

Off-Campus Employment

  • All Off-Campus Employers MUST first be approved by Student Financial Services prior to hiring a student.
  • Employers MUST have a valid contract with Temple University and all required paperwork fully completed in order to be approved to receive Temple University Federal Work-study students.
  • Off-campus Work-Study jobs are posted on the Off-Campus Work Study Job Bank section of this website.
  • Students MUST receive authorization from Student Financial Services prior to beginning work with Off-Campus Employers. This includes Employers listed on the job bank and Off-Campus Employers that student have found on their own. Temple University cannot process any work-study payments for work performed for unauthorized employment. Payment for unauthorized employment must be made in full by the employer. 

If you have questions regarding the I-9 hiring for HR please refer to the HR website.

Getting Paid
  • Off-Campus Students: Timesheet for hours worked must be submitted by the directly by the supervisor to . We cannot accept timesheets submitted by students. 
  • On-Campus Students: Hours worked must be submitted via the Kronos system and approved by the supervisor. 
  • You are paid bi-weekly. The payroll schedule is available online Temple University Payroll Schedule
  • You have the option of signing up for direct deposit via their on-boarding process with HR. 
  • You will be paid only when all appropriate payroll forms are completed and submitted to Human Resources by the hiring department (or with Student Financial Services in the case of off-campus employment). If all paperwork has not been completed, the employer is solely responsible for paying your wages. 
  • Questions about paychecks should be referred to your work study position’s supervisor for on-campus positions and/or Temple University Payroll Office.
  • Questions regarding FICA taxes can be found via:  Temple University Payroll Office.
  • Payroll Tax information can also be found via: Frequently Asked Questions- Payroll
Summer Work Study

Summer Federal Work-Study Program allows you to earn funding toward educational expenses for the upcoming academic year. If you are interested in working during the Summer semester, you should email us at  mid-April 

If you have secured an approved Federal Work Study position, email us to request to be reviewed for the work study grant. The summer eligibility requirements are listed below.

Eligibility Requirements:

To be considered for Summer federal work study, you must:

  • Have a valid FAFSA on file for both the current year and the upcoming academic years.
  • Have submitted all Financial Aid requirements for both the current and upcoming academic years. You can locate this information on the Costs & Aid tab of TUPortal.
  • Must qualify for Title IV Aid.
  • Must have unmet financial need as calculated by the FAFSA.
  • Must be either enrolled for Summer Session or pre-registered for the upcoming Fall term.

Awarding Information

  • Summer I Federal Work-study awards are posted under Summer I and are subject to Cost of Attendance limits. We then run a process to carry forward any unused Summer I funding over to Summer II for eligible students. We do not carry forward balances from Fall or Spring over to summer.
  • Student Financial Services will determine your eligibility for a summer Federal Work Study grant based on the FAFSA information, summer registration eligibility, and the upcoming fall pre-registration. Amounts awarded are determined by available funding and unmet financial need as determined by the FAFSA.
  • If enrolled in courses for the Summer I or Summer II sessions, you must complete and submit the Summer Federal Work Study Request Form to SFS.
  • If you are not enrolled during the summer session(s), but are pre-registered for the upcoming fall semester, then we are required to adhere to the federal regulation that governs FWS. The regulation requires a portion of summer earnings be used to meet educational expenses during the upcoming academic year. These attributed earnings are considered a resource offsetting calculated need for the upcoming FAFSA award year. 

Employment Information

If you are working on-campus, then you will be hired through the department posting the position via Careers@Temple on TUPortal, where you can also apply for the on-campus position.

If you are seeking an off-campus position, please review the available positions in our off-campus job bank.

  • Off-Campus workstudy postions must with an approved employer that is currently contracted with SFS. 
    • Temple's Off-Campus workstudy program only contracts with local non-profits that provide services to the community. We do not contract with private organizations or organizations that do not meet our community service definition. 
  • Students who begin working without prior authorization off-campus will not be paid through the Federal Workstudy Grant.
    • Please note that outside organizations do not have access to Temple's HR or payroll system.
  • Please note that having a work study award on your account does not guarantee that it can be used towards an internship position. As stated previously, work study awards can only be used towards Temple contracted non-profit organizations. Students should contact us at  prior to working off-campus to ensure the employer is eligible.
What's the difference beween Federal Work Study and Student Employment?

Federal Work Study 

  • Requires you to file a FAFSA, and
  • You must have have calculated financial need.
  • Only certain and eligible off-campus position qualify as work study eligible
  • Earning potential is limited by the your Cost of Attendance

Student Employment 

  • Requires you to be enrolled at Temple
  • Your income is provided by the department in full
  • Total hours are capped at 25 per week.

What do off-campus employers need to know about Federal Work Study?

General Information

Please note that Student Financial Services will work with approved employers to provide in-person job opportunities we will be asking for Covid-19 protocols and procedures for those requests.

Interested non-profit organizations should  email us at . At this time any new request will be reviewed for Fall 2022. 

Current Off-Campus partners can contact us at  to follow up on the status of their student hires.

Student Financial Services partners with non-profit organzations as part of our Federal Workstudy Community Service program. Please note that this program is only designed for "paid positions" we cannot use Federal work-study funding for positions or internships set up as "non-paid" or as a "volunteer" position.

In order to be considered the organization must show that their organization has programs that are designed to improve the quality of life for community residents, particularly low-income individuals, or to solve particular problems related to their needs.

The student does need to provide a "direct" service. The student must provide services that are designed to improve the quality of life for community residents or to solve particular problems related to those residents' needs. 

Contracted Employers can contact us via email at .

Students should be emailing SFS at .  The  email address is only for employers and not students. 

Required Documentation

Employers interested in participating in Temple’s Work Study Program should submit the following to be considered for the program:

  • Documentation about the organization and its mission.
  • Job description(s) documenting the type of work the student would be doing.
    • Positions that require interaction with minors should have it documented in the job description.
    • The Off-Campus employers is responsible for conducting the required child abuses clearance(s). Employers must outline how clearances will be conducted and notify Temple University once clearances are obtained. Students are not authorized to work until proper clearances are obtained and documented to Temple University. 
  • Proof of non-profit- 501(c)(3)
  • Employers must outline COVID-19 procedures. 
  • Submit Off-Campus Employer application (email  to request)

Please note that employer slots are limited and we will try to provide a decision as soon as possible. 

Paying Student Employees

Temple University authorized Federal Workstudy students will have their bi-weekly payroll processed by Temple Univeristy utilizing Federal funding.  The Federal Workstudy program pays 75% of the student wage using the Federal work-study grant. The employer hiring the student is responsible to pay Temple 25% of the student’s award amount in advance. Employers who want to be considered for the community service match can email us .  Students must first come to SFS to get hired  prior to beginning employment. Students should not begin working off-campus until SFS has assured them that they are officially hired into our HR system.

Off-campus employers must monitor student earnings to ensure that students do not earn in excess of their award. An organization may forfeit its eligibility to employ students if students are continually permitted to exceed their awards. If the student exceeds his or her award, the employer will be responsible for 100% of the overaward.

Frequently Asked Federal Work Study Questions

How can I accept the work-study offer?

Federal Work Study offers are included in the student's financial aid offer. Students can accept the offer through these steps:

  1. Log into TUPortal and go to the Self-Service Banner.
  2. Click on 'Financial Aid.'
  3. Review the tabs in order to reach the Award Overview section.
  4. Accept or decline the federal work study offer.
How many hours can I work in my Federal Work-Study job?
  • Student can work up to 20 hours per week during the Fall and Spring Semesters. The number of hours worked each week is based on your work study allocation for that semester.
  • During the Summer Session students can work up to 40 hours per week , assuming they have enough work-study funding to cover their wages.
    • Summer work-study is a separate award from Fall/Spring and must be requested in mid-April. We do not roll over unused funding from Fall/Spring to Summer.
  • Students are not permitted to work during their scheduled class hours. The only exception if is there is written notice that the class has been canceled.
Can I request an increase if I need more funding to continue working for in a given semester?

Students can request to be reviewed for an increase. Please note increases are not guaranteed.  Work study increases are based on available funding and unmet need on the student’s aid account. Please note that borrowing large private or Parent Plus loans can affect the ability for us to post work-study on an account as we cannot exceed the Cost of Attendance set for each semester. Requests can be made by emailing 

What are the eligibility requirements for Summer work-study?
  • Summer work-study eligibility is separate from Fall/Spring and has a different set of eligibility requirements. Students should email us at  in mid-April to be reviewed.
  • Student must have a valid FAFSA on file for the current year and the upcoming academic year
  • Student must also have submitted all Financial Aid requirements. You can locate this in the Cost & Aid tab of TUPortal.
  • Student must qualify for Title IV Aid.
  • Students not meeting satisfactory academic progress cannot receive Federal Work-study.
  • Student must have unmet financial need- This is determined by the FAFSA Application.
  • Student must be either enrolled for Summer Session and/or pre-registered for the upcoming Fall.
  • Students enrolled in Summer session must submit the FWSENR form located in the forms section.
Can I work under the Federal work-study program after I graduate from Temple?

No. Since this grant funding is based on federal aid eligibility students who graduate cannot continue to work under the work-study program the semester after they have graduated.

Can I work my work-study position if I am on an official leave of absence?

No. Students must be an enrolled student, currently registered for classes and eligible for federal aid to work a federal work-study position. Students who have taken a leave of absence will not qualify to work as a federal work-study student.

Does work-study pay my tuition and fees?

No. Work-study students receive a bi-weekly pay. The work-study grant on your Financial Aid offer does not go towards your tuition and fees. How much you earn is based on the offer per semester & hours worked. Any unused funding goes back to the grant and is not paid out to students. 

Who should I contact with issues completing the I-9 Process?

For issues completing the I-9 process, students can contact HR at  . Please note that the I-9 email comes from the vendor EQUIFAX. Please make sure to check spam folders to ensure emails are not missed. 

Do I receive a w-2 for my work-study position?

Yes. Students working a Federal Work-study position in the University will receive a W-2 from Temple’s HR Department. You can view this via your TUPortal.

Will I get charged FICA tax for my work-study position?

FICA taxes are broken down into two parts: Social Security and Medicare. Temple University is required to withhold FICA taxes for all employees for whom it is applicable. Students must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours Fall/Spring and at least 3 credit hours for Summer Session to be exempt from FICA taxes.

Can I qualify to receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) as a work-study student?

As a Federal Work-study student, you may be entitled to SNAP benefits. Please refer to the USDA (US Department of Agriculture) website for more detailed information. 

Who can I get to verify my employment at Temple?

THE WORK NUMBER® is a service of Equifax that provides employees with an automated process to handle employment and income verifications. It allows our employees to have their employment and income verified within a matter of minutes. This fast, secure service is used for mortgage applications, reference checks, loan applications, apartment leases, government aid or most other applications that require proof of employment. 

 

The Work Number Client Service Center
1-800-996-7566 (Voice)
1-800-424-0253 (TTY – Deaf)
Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m.– 8:00p.m. (CST)

Please note that HR cannot verify if the position was paid via Federal Work-study funding. Students should email for those inquiries.