Work Study Grants

A PILA-funded Work Study Grant allows students to earn higher wages than traditional grants. However, they have less flexibility and require longer periods of service. Work Study Grant applicants should be knowledgeable of and be prepared to satisfy each requirement set forth below before applying for this special funding.

Work Study Grant recipients spend the summer working for a qualified host organization as a work-study employee at no cost to the host organization. The state will reimburse work-study employers for a portion of the employee's gross wages and PILA will reimburse the employer for the remaining portion of the employee's wages and other income related expenses, including social security taxes and worker's compensation taxes. Work study participants may earn up to $20.00 per hour, however, the employer selects the ultimate pay rate.

Requirements

Work Study Grant applicants must ensure that the following tasks are completed before submitting their application materials:
  • Educate yourself about the work-study process and its requirements by viewing the student employee handbook.
  • Ensure that you are work-study eligible for the upcoming summer. Contact Mike Azzato in the UW Financial Aid Work Study Office to determine eligibility. You must also ensure that you will be eligible for the amount you plan to earn over the summer.
  • Educate the potential employer about the work-study process and its requirements by viewing the off-campus employer handbook.
  • Ensure that the employer is a work-study qualified employer. Contact Mike Azzato to determine whether the employer is already qualified or have the employer submit the appropriate documents to determine eligibility.
  • Work Study Grant applications must include a PILA Work Study Employer Eligibility Form indicating (1) that the employer has registered with the University of Washington Financial Aid Office and is eligible to employ work study students, (2) that it is willing to serve as a PILA work study employer, and (3) the pay rate up to $20.00 per hour.

Restrictions and Notices

  • Work Study Grants are only available for use during summer quarter.
  • Work Study Grants may not be used internationally.
  • Special arrangements must be made with the employer and the UW Work Study office before out-of-state employers are eligible. Contact Mike Azzato to learn more about out-of-state employers.
  • In most cases, employers will deduct federal income taxes, social security and medicare payment directly from your check. However, if they do not, it is still the responsibility of the grant recipient to ensure that all such required payments are made.
  • There is an expectation that work-study employees save 40% of their summer earnings for use over the following academic year. Consequently, the employee's financial aid will be reduced by that amount over the following academic year.
    If the student is eligible to earn $10,000, their financial aid will be reduced by $4,000 ($1,333.33 each quarter). Private loan financial need will be reduced before Stafford/Perkins loan need and unsubsidized loans will be reduced before subsidized loans. In general, grants and tuition exemptions will be the last types of aid to be reduced.
  • Work Study Grant recipients and employers are required to fulfill all state and federal work-study requirements. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
    • Student employees may not begin working until July 1st.
    • Student employees are expected to work 40 hours per week from July 1st until the beginning of the fall quarter. This allows for 65 days of employment. The Work Study office presumes that students will work each of these 65 days and basis work-study eligibility on this presumption. For example, if a student works 65 days at 8 hrs/day at $20/hr., that student would be eligible for $10,400 in work-study. The following year's 40% financial aid reduction will be based on that number.
    • The Work Study office and PILA realize that working the full 65 days may be impossible due to national holidays, the need to prepare for fall classes, illness and office closures. However, PILA expects all Work Study Grant recipients to work at least 55 days (440 hours). To ensure that your financial aid is not adversely affected by illness, office closures and holidays, please contact Mike Azzato in the Work Study Office at the end of the summer to inform him of the total hours worked.
    • Applicants must be work-study eligible prior to submitting their grant application.
    • Employers must be work-study eligible prior to applicants submitting their grant applications.
    • Employers must submit the appropriate reimbursement forms to the UW Financial Aid Office to be reimbursed for wages paid throughout the summer. Employers may be reimbursed up to twice per month, but payment will depend of their timely submittal of required documents.
    • PILA will reimburse employers in advance of the recipient's employment. If the amount given to the employer is in excess of the work completed by the employee, the employer is required to send all unused payments back to PILA no later than two months after the grantee completes his or her hours.
    • Please see the Work Study Employer and Employee Handbooks for further requirements.