# Rewards and Fair Pay (https://terac.com/docs/experts/policies/rewards)

How study rewards are set, when you get paid, and the protections that make sure you are paid fairly.

Terac is built so you know what a study pays before you start, and so approved work is paid promptly. This page explains how rewards work and the protections in place to keep things fair.

## You See the Pay Before You Apply [#you-see-the-pay-before-you-apply]

Every opportunity shows its pay and what you will be doing in its details before you apply. You never have to start a study to find out what it pays. Open any opportunity on **Explore** at [terac.com/me/opportunities](https://terac.com/me/opportunities) to see the reward, the kind of work, and the full description.

## You Are Paid for Approved Work [#you-are-paid-for-approved-work]

* On a **one-time opportunity**, your earnings are added to your Terac balance shortly after your work is approved.
* On a **project-based opportunity**, paid by the hour or per task, you are paid on the project's payout schedule. See [Project-Based Work](https://terac.com/docs/experts/working/projects).
* On an opportunity you joined through **another research panel**, that panel usually pays you directly, and the payment does not appear in your Terac balance.

You can cash out from your [Earnings page](https://terac.com/me/earnings) once you reach the minimum.

> The minimum to cash out is **$12.50**. Earnings from multiple
> submissions add up toward it, so smaller studies add up.

## How Long Review Takes [#how-long-review-takes]

After you submit, your work goes into review. How long it takes depends on the opportunity and on who reviews it: our automated review, our team, or the research team. The screen you land on after submitting says what happens next, and we email you when there is a decision.

> If your submission has been awaiting review for more than 7 days, [ask
> Sophia](https://terac.com/docs/experts/support/contact) and we will chase it up for you.

## Being Screened Out [#being-screened-out]

Screening questions confirm you match what a study needs. If you are screened out, it means you did not match the criteria for that particular study, and that study is not paid. Being screened out is normal, it is not a judgment on you, and it does not affect your account, unless your answers misrepresented you. Keep applying to opportunities that fit your background. See [completing screeners](https://terac.com/docs/experts/working/screeners) for tips.

## Bonus Payments [#bonus-payments]

Some studies include bonus payments on top of the base reward, for things like multi-part studies, follow-up sessions, or exceptional contributions. Bonuses appear in your [transaction history](https://terac.com/docs/experts/how-to/payments). A bonus a researcher adds to an interview shows as **Interview bonus** under **All Transactions**.

If a study told you a bonus was coming and it has not arrived after the work was approved, [ask Sophia](https://terac.com/docs/experts/support/contact) with the name of the study.

## If You Think You Were Underpaid or a Payment Is Missing [#if-you-think-you-were-underpaid-or-a-payment-is-missing]

Work through these steps:

1. **Check the submission status.** Open [your history](https://terac.com/me/opportunities/history) and confirm the work was approved, not still in review or screened out.
2. **Check who pays for it.** If you joined the opportunity through another research panel, that panel pays you, not Terac.
3. **Check your balance and transaction history.** Approved earnings and bonuses appear on your [Earnings page](https://terac.com/me/earnings). On a project, check its **Payout** tab and next payout date.
4. **Check how long it has been in review.** If it has been awaiting review for more than 7 days, mention that in the next step and we will chase it up.
5. **Ask Sophia.** If the numbers still do not look right, [ask Sophia](https://terac.com/docs/experts/support/contact). She can see your balance and your cash outs, and hands anything she can't sort out to our team.

## Taxes [#taxes]

Earnings from Terac may be taxable depending on where you live and your total income. You are responsible for reporting your income according to your local tax laws. See the [Payout Policy](https://terac.com/docs/experts/policies/payout-policy) for how tax details are collected.

## What's Next? [#whats-next]

* Learn the mechanics of getting your money in [Setting Up Payments](https://terac.com/docs/experts/how-to/payments)
* Read the full [Payout Policy](https://terac.com/docs/experts/policies/payout-policy)
* Understand each status in [Understanding Submissions](https://terac.com/docs/experts/working/submissions)