Cal Grant paper for high schoolers?? (SSN problem)

I have a younger brother who's a senior in a california high school. A few days ago he brought home this paper that he received from school. It was for the Cal Grant and all the graduating high school seniors had to fill it out. (I don't remember doing this when I graduated a few years back). There was a lot for social security but since he doesn't have it (or he used to.. it was this temporary one that he could use with his dhs authorization card, which expired) he just turned it in with that lot just empty.
I didn't think it was a big deal but he said they told him that he needs to put down one.

Does anybody know about this?

If he had an SSN in the past, it's still his and it's still valid. He can use that.

Well its Cali so he should be good to go

Once you get a SSN, it's yours for life. It will never expire.

but assuming there was no SSN available, either put all zeroes or nothing at all, don't put an ITIN, unless it is specifically specified you can use that number.