Receiving Financial Aid 
Your college or career school not the U.S. Department of Education will distribute your federal student aid. You ve told your school which financial aid you want to accept. Learn about when and how you will receive the aid. 

When You ll Receive Your Financial Aid 
The type of aid you accepted affects when you ll get your aid. 

Grants and Student Loans 
Generally , your school will give you your grant or loan money in at least two payments called disbursements. In most cases , your school must give you your grant or loan money at least once per term semester, trimester, or quarter. Schools that don t use traditional terms such as semesters or quarters usually must give you your grant or loan money at least twice for instance, at the beginning and midpoint of your academic year or program. Note: If you re a parent taking out a Direct PLUS Loan to help pay for your child s education expenses , your loan funds will be disbursed according to the same type of schedule. The following may apply if you haven t taken out a federal student loan before : If you re a first - year undergraduate student and a first - time borrower , you may have to wait 30 days after the first day of your enrollment period semester, trimester, etc. before your school is allowed to give you your loan money. Check with your school to see whether this rule applies. If you re a first - time borrower of a Direct Subsidized Loan or a Direct Unsubsidized Loan , you must complete entrance counseling before your school can give you your loan money. If you are a graduate or professional student taking out a Direct PLUS Loan for the first time , you must complete entrance counseling before you receive your first loan disbursement. Note: Counseling isn t required if you re a parent taking out a Direct PLUS Loan to help pay for your child s education. 

Work-Study 
If you re going to have a work - study job , you ll be paid at least once a month. If you don t receive the type or am

user: Can you tell me how I'll receive my financial aid, please?

assistant: How you'll get your aid depends on the type of aid you accepted.

user: I know, but what can you tell me about grants and student loans?

assistant: Your school will give you your grant or loan money in at least two payments called disbursements. In most cases, your school must give you your grant or loan money at least once per term semester, trimester, or quarter.

user: What if I have a credit balance?

assistant: Then your school must pay this amount to you directly within 14 days unless you authorize the school to keep the money to pay for future institutional charges.

user: When do schools that participate in federal student aid programs have to help me obtain my materials needed for my studies?

assistant: Are you eligible for disbursement i.e., the payment of your financial aid 10 days before the term begins?

user: No, I'm not.

assistant: Then I'm afraid that your school won't have to provide a way for you to obtain your books and supplies.

user: That's a bummer. Ah, well. And what if my course uses paid online content?

assistant: In that case your school may have negotiated a deal with the publisher that will allow you online access at a fraction of the cost you would pay for a physical book. The paid online content may also come with study tools and other content in addition to the textbook.