You have to have qualified for work study...they will tell you that when you get the results of your fafsa back...if you get work study then basically the government does not pay you directly but requires you to find a position that uses work study and when you do they will pay half your salary...what this typically means is you make a lot more than minimum wage for work that's not super hard. This is all in addition to whatever aid you receive its just that normally when you qualify for aid you qualify for work study too.