I have federal work study, but can't get any hours. Anyone know about this?

I get federal work study as part of my financial aid package for college. I am allotted a specific amount of money that I can earn each semester. However, my both of the supervisers from the two work study jobs I've had said that each department at the university is given a certain number of hours they can give to students each semester that they can't go over.

With the hours he can give me, I don't even come close to making the amount it says I can make in my financial aid package. My superviser doesn't know the reason. I tried to talk to the financial aid office about it, and they don't seem to know, either. This seems really fishy to me... because I'm pretty sure the school is given those funds ahead of time to pay their student workers. My worst case scenario is that they are keeping student hours low and pocking the excess funds.

Does anyone know if this is common at most universities? Anyone know the reason for this bizarre policy? I really want to know why I can't work more hours and if there is some action I can take, I want to take it. Thanks in advance.