Federal Work-Study Program General Information Work-Study is a federal aid program, administered by the Financial Aid Office*, that is awarded to students who apply for financial aid and meet specific eligibility criteria. Work-study is an opportunity to work.  Students are paid an hourly rate and receive a paycheck every two weeks for the hours worked.  Students can not earn more than their work-study award amount. The first step in the application process for work-study is to check interest in work-study when filing the FAFSA.  After UAlbany receives an official FAFSA record, Financial Aid determines work-study eligibility. First time work-study recipients must meet specific income eligibility requirements and demonstrate financial need.  In addition to meeting income and need requirements, returning work-study students must also have earned at least $700 of their work-study award in the prior year.   Students who declined their work-study award in a prior year or did not earn at least $700 will not have their work-study award renewed. Work-Study funds are allocated each year by the Federal government.  The financial aid office will award eligible students work-study until the funds for the year are exhausted.   Consequently, students who meet eligibility criteria but file their FAFSA after Financial Aid stops awarding work-study will not receive a work-study award. Once a student is awarded work-study, they must accept their award through MyUAlbany. Students with accepted work-study awards use the Work-Study Employment website to locate a work-study job at UAlbany.  Each year the Financial Aid Office notifies eligible work-study students with specific information about the opening of the Work-Study Employment website.  It is the responsibility of the student to find a work-study job using the Work-Study Employment website. *Federally limited aid programs administered by the Office of Financial Aid are called Campus-based aid programs.  The federal government determines the amount of money the Office of Financial Aid can award to students.  When all the funds are exhausted, awarding of this aid program stops.