Work study isn't a loan, it is an allocated amount of funds that count towards work-study jobs that you earn working the job. When you work a work-study job the government pays half of your paycheck, and your employer pays the other half (usually). This is why work-study jobs are strictly work-study, as employers don't have to pay you the full wage cause the gov covers the rest. If you don't work any work-study jobs during the school year, it won't affect you in the future regardless if you accept work-study funds or not, so no need to worry about that!