I think some people assume that checking the box obligates the student to work if a job is offered. I was unsure about that early in the process and I hesitated at that question until I discovered the student is not required to accept any job they don’t wish to perform.
Another thing that confused me in the beginning is when I was reviewing Cost and FinAid breakdowns, work study was always listed on the FinAid side with grants/scholarships/loans. It was usually included with a (-) sign in front of it like the other categories which, to me, insinuated it was deducted from your Cost side. I later learned that Workstudy money is not actually deducted from the cost side, in large part because the student is not obligated to work and earn any money in the first place. When reviewing FinAid documents, it is sometimes necessary to add any amount listed as Workstudy back into the pot you are expected to pay.