261 
an independent student, the student, or in 
the case of a dependent student, the parent, 
files a form described in this subsection, or 
subsection (c), as the case may be, if the stu-
dent or parent, as appropriate, files’’; 
(B) in subsection (c)— 
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking sub-
paragraph (A) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) the student’s parents file, or are eligi-
ble to file, a form described in subsection (b)(3) 
or certify that they are not required to file an 
income tax return, and the student files, or is el-
igible to file, such a form or certifies that the stu-
dent is not required to file an income tax return, 
or the student’s parents, or the student, received 
benefits at some time during the previous 12- 
month period under a means-tested Federal ben-
efit program as defined in subsection (d); and’’; 
and 
(ii) in paragraph (2), by striking sub-
paragraph (A) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) the student (and the student’s spouse, 
if any) files, or is eligible to file, a form de-
scribed in subsection (b)(3) or certifies that the 
student (and the student’s spouse, if any) is not
262 
required to file an income tax return, or the stu-
dent (and the student’s spouse, if any) received 
benefits at some time during the previous 12- 
month period under a means-tested Federal ben-
efit program as defined in subsection (d); and’’; 
and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subsections: 
‘‘(d) DEFINITION OF MEANS-TESTED FEDERAL BEN-
EFIT PROGRAM.—For the purposes of this section, the term 
‘means-tested Federal benefit program’ means a mandatory 
spending program of the Federal Government, other than 
a program under this title, in which eligibility for the pro-
gram’s benefits, or the amount of such benefits, or both, are 
determined on the basis of income or resources of the indi-
vidual or family seeking the benefit, and may include such 
programs as the supplemental security income program 
under title XVI of the Social Security Act, the food stamp 
program under the Food Stamp Act of 1977, the free and 
reduced price school lunch program established under the 
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, the tem-
porary assistance to needy families program established 
under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act, and 
the women, infants and children program established under
263 
Section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, and other 
programs identified by the Secretary. 
‘‘(e) REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary 
shall regularly evaluate the impact of the eligibility guide-
lines in subsections (b)(1)(A)(i), (b)(1)(B)(i), (c)(1)(A) and 
(c)(2)(A) of this section. In particular, the Secretary shall 
evaluate whether, under the definition of means-tested Fed-
eral benefit programs in subsection (d), the Simplified 
Needs Test continues to be targeted to the maximum number 
of low- and moderate-income students.’’. 
(b) IMPROVEMENTS
TO
PAPER
AND
ELECTRONIC 
FORMS.— 
(1) COMMON FINANCIAL AID FORM DEVELOPMENT 
AND
PROCESSING.—Section 
483(a) 
(20 
U.S.C. 
1090(a)) is amended— 
(A) by striking paragraphs (1), (2), and 
(5); 
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), 
(6), and (7), as paragraphs (9), (10), (11), and 
(12), respectively; 
(C) by inserting before paragraph (9), as 
redesignated by subparagraph (B), the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in coopera-
tion with representatives of agencies and organiza-
tions involved in student financial assistance, shall
264 
produce, distribute, and process free of charge com-
mon financial reporting forms as described in this 
subsection to be used for application and reapplica-
tion to determine the need and eligibility of a student 
for financial assistance under parts A through E 
(other than subpart 4 of part A). These forms shall 
be made available to applicants in both paper and 
electronic formats and shall be referred to as the ‘Free 
Application for Federal Student Aid’ or the ‘FAFSA’. 
‘‘(2) EARLY ESTIMATES.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
permit applicants to complete such forms as de-
scribed in this subsection in the 4 years prior to 
enrollment in order to obtain a non-binding esti-
mate of the family contribution, as defined in 
section 473. The estimate shall clearly and con-
spicuously indicate that it is only an estimate of 
family contribution, and may not reflect the ac-
tual family contribution of the applicant that 
shall be used to determine the grant, loan, or 
work assistance that the applicant may receive 
under this title when enrolled in a program of 
postsecondary education. Such applicants shall 
be permitted to update information submitted on
265 
forms described in this subsection using the proc-
ess required under paragraph (5)(A). 
‘‘(B) EVALUATION.—Two years after the 
early estimates are implemented under this 
paragraph and from data gathered from the 
early estimates, the Secretary shall evaluate the 
differences between initial, non-binding early es-
timates and the final financial aid award made 
available under this title. 
‘‘(C) REPORT.—The Secretary shall provide 
a report to the authorizing committees on the re-
sults of the evaluation. 
‘‘(3) PAPER FORMAT.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
produce, distribute, and process common forms 
in paper format to meet the requirements of 
paragraph (1). The Secretary shall develop a 
common paper form for applicants who do not 
meet the requirements of subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(B) EZ FAFSA.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
develop and use a simplified paper applica-
tion form, to be known as the ‘EZ FAFSA’, 
to be used for applicants meeting the re-
quirements of section 479(c).