you dont get it all at once, you get allotments each quarter, and its generally used for books (extremely expensive), rent, food, car payments, ect...

now tax payers have to pick it up, he was likely getting a "Pell" Grant, along with student loans, the Pell Grants are nothing, usually 500-2000 dollars per quarter, the Student Loans, are more, depending on what school you go to, and have to be paid back, as its a loan, not a grant...