,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ccec ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,august #af1 #bjah,mr4 ,booker 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,mrs4 ,gillibrand1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 ,mr4 ,jones1 ,ms4 ,harris1 and ,ms4 ,cortez ,masto7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife to require the ,secretary to provide for the use of data from the second preceding tax year to carry out the simplification of applications for the estimation and determination of financial aid eligibility1 to increase the income threshold to qualify for zero expected family contribution1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,simplifying ,financial ,aid for ,students ,act of #bjah4 #b4 ,using data for second preceding year ,section #dhj7;a77#a77;,b7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhgvv7a77#a77;,b77 is amended to read as follows3 7,b7 ,notwithstanding section #dgh7;a7 and beginning not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of the ,simplifying ,financial ,aid for ,students ,act of #bjah1 the ,secretary shall provide for the use of data from the second preceding tax year when and to the extent necessary to carry out the simplification of applications 7including simplification for a subset of applications7 used for the estimation and determination of financial aid eligibility4 ,such simplification shall include the sharing of data between the ,internal ,revenue ,service and the ,department1 pursuant to the consent of the taxpayer4 4 #c4 ,family contribution 7a7 ,family contribution ,section #dgc7;b7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhgmm7b77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking the subsection heading and inserting ,zero family contribution2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#a71 by adding or 7#c7 after paragraph 7#b72 7#c7 in paragraph 7#b7-- 7,a7 by striking the paragraph heading and inserting ,children of certain deceased veterans2 7,b7 in each of subparagraphs 7,b7 and 7,c71 by redesignating clauses 7i7 and 7ii7 as subclauses 7,i7 and 7,,ii71 respectively and adjusting the margins accordingly2 7,c7 by redesignating subparagraphs 7,a71 7,b71 and 7,c71 as clauses 7i71 7ii71 and 7iii71 respectively2 and 7,d7 by striking ,paragraph 7#a7 shall and inserting the following3 7,a7 ,applicability ,paragraph 7#a7 shall 2 7#d7 in paragraph 7#c7-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by striking subparagraphs 7,a71 7,b77i71 and 7,c7 of paragraph 7#b7 and inserting clause 7i71 7ii77,i71 and 7iii7 of subparagraph 7,a72 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,b7-- 7i7 by striking subparagraphs 7,a71 7,b77ii71 and 7,c7 of paragraph 7#b7 and inserting clause 7i71 7ii77,,ii71 and 7iii7 of subparagraph 7,a72 and 7ii7 by redesignating clauses 7i7 through 7iii7 as subclauses 7,i7 through 7,,iii71 respectively1 and adjusting the margins accordingly2 and 7,c7 by redesignating subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7 as clauses 7i7 and 7ii71 respectively1 and adjusting the margins accordingly2 7#e7 by redesignating paragraph 7#c7 as subparagraph 7,b71 and adjusting the margins accordingly2 and 7#f7 by inserting after paragraph 7#b77;,b71 as redesignated by paragraph 7#e71 the following3 7#c7 ,recipients of certain means-tested benefits 7,a7 ,in ,general ,paragraph 7#a7 shall apply to a student if-- 7i7 that student is a dependent student whose parent participated in a means-tested ,federal benefits program at any time during the period encompassed from the beginning of the second prior calendar year through the date of filing2 or 7ii7 that student is independent and the student or spouse of that student participated in a means-tested ,federal benefits program at any time during the period encompassed from the beginning of the second prior calendar year through the date of filing4 7,b7 ,means-tested ,federal benefits program ,in this paragraph1 the term means-tested ,federal benefits program means-- 7i7 the supplemental security income program under title ,,xvi of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acha et seq472 7ii7 the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq472 7iii7 the ,medicaid program under title ,,xix of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acif et seq472 7iv7 a ,state program funded under the temporary assistance for needy families program under part ,a of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fja et seq472 7v7 the special supplemental nutrition program for women1 infants1 and children established by section #ag of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aghf72 and 7vi7 any other program determined by the ,secretary to be appropriate based on-- 7,i7 the reliability under which the need for benefits from the program is established2 and 7,,ii7 the feasibility of data linkages4 4 7b7 ,simplified needs test ,section #dgi of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhgss7 is amended to read as follows3 #dgi4 ,simplified needs tests 7a7 ,simplified application section 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall develop and use an easily identifiable simplified application section as part of the common financial reporting form prescribed under section #dhc7;a7 for families described in subsections 7b7 and 7c7 of this section4 7#b7 ,reduced data requirements ,the simplified application form shall-- 7,a7 in the case of a family meeting the requirements of subsection 7b77#a71 permit such family to submit only the data elements required under subsection 7b77#b7 for the purposes of establishing eligibility for student financial aid under this part2 and 7,b7 in the case of a family meeting the requirements of subsection 7c71 permit such family to be treated as having an expected family contribution equal to zero for purposes of establishing such eligibility and to submit only the data elements required to make a determination under subsection 7c74 7b7 ,simplified needs test 7#a7 ,eligibility ,an applicant is eligible to file a simplified form containing the elements required by paragraph 7#b7 if-- 7,a7 the applicant did not file and was not required to file any ,federal tax return during the #bd-month period preceding the date of the determination of eligibility2 7,b7 the applicant1 or1 in the case of an applicant who is a dependent student1 the applicant's parent1 participated in a means-tested ,federal benefits program1 as described in section #dgc7;b77#c77;,b71 during the #bd-month period preceding the date of the determination of eligibility2 7,c7 the applicant1 or1 in the case of an applicant who is a dependent student1 the applicant's parent1 filed a form #ajdj;,a1 #ajdj;,,ez1 or #ajdj 7including any prepared or electronic version of such form7 required pursuant to the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf1 with no forms or schedules1 during the #bd-month period preceding the date of the determination of eligibility2 7,d7 in the case of an applicant who is a dependent student-- 7i7 the student's parents include at least one parent who is a dislocated worker2 and 7ii7 the total adjusted gross income of the parents 7excluding any income of the dependent student7 is less than #ej1jjj2 or 7,e7 in the case of an applicant who is an independent student-- 7i7 the student is a dislocated worker or has a spouse who is a dislocated worker2 and 7ii7 the adjusted gross income of the student 7and the student's spouse1 if any7 is less than #ej1jjj4 7#b7 ,simplified test elements ,the six elements to be used for the simplified needs analysis are-- 7,a7 adjusted gross income2 7,b7 ,federal taxes paid2 7,c7 untaxed income and benefits2 7,d7 the number of family members2 7,e7 the number of family members in postsecondary education2 and 7,f7 an allowance 7,a7 for ,state and other taxes1 as defined in section #dge7;c77#b7 for dependent students and in section #dgg7;b77#b7 for independent students with dependents other than a spouse1 or 7,b7 for ,state and other income taxes1 as defined in section #dgf7;b77#b7 for independent students without dependents other than a spouse4 7#c7 ,qualifying forms ,in the case of an independent student1 the student1 or in the case of a dependent student1 the family1 files a form described in this subsection1 or subsection 7c71 as the case may be1 if the student or family1 as appropriate1 files-- 7,a7 a form #ajdj;,a or #ajdj;,,ez 7including any prepared or electronic version of such form7 required pursuant to the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf2 7,b7 a form #ajdj 7including any prepared or electronic version of such form7 required pursuant to the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf1 except that such form shall be considered a qualifying form only if the student or family files such form in order to take a tax credit under section #be;,a of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf1 and would otherwise be eligible to file a form described in subparagraph 7,a72 or 7,c7 an income tax return 7including any prepared or electronic version of such return7 required pursuant to the tax code of the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 ,guam1 ,american ,samoa1 the ,virgin ,islands1 the ,republic of the ,marshall ,islands1 the ,federated ,states of ,micronesia1 or ,palau4 7c7 ,zero expected family contribution ,the ,secretary shall consider an applicant to have an expected family contribution equal to zero if-- 7#a7 in the case of a dependent student-- 7,a7 the student's parents include at least one parent who is a dislocated worker2 and 7,b7 the sum of the adjusted gross annual income of the parents is less than or equal to #cf1jjj2 or 7#b7 in the case of an independent student with dependents other than a spouse-- 7,a7 the student 7and the student's spouse1 if any7 is a dislocated worker or has a spouse who is a dislocated worker2 and 7,b7 the sum of the adjusted gross annual income of the student and spouse 7if appropriate7 is less than or equal to #cf1jjj4 ,an individual is not required to qualify or file for the earned income credit in order to be eligible under this subsection4 ,the ,secretary shall annually adjust the income level necessary to qualify an applicant for the zero expected family contribution4 ,the income level shall be adjusted according to increases in the ,consumer ,price ,index1 as defined in section #dgh7;f74 7d7 ,dislocated worker ,in this section1 the term dislocated worker has the meaning given the term in section #c of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act4 4 #d4 ,,fafsa simplification 7a7 ,,fafsa simplification ,section #dhc7;f7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajij7;f77 is amended to read as follows3 7f7 ,reduction of income and asset information ,to determine eligibility for student financial aid 7#a7 ,use of ,internal ,revenue ,service data retrieval tool to populate ,,fafsa ,the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 make every effort to make available and allow applicants to utilize the data retrieval tool that is in existence on the date of enactment of the ,simplifying ,financial ,aid for ,students ,act of #bjah to transfer data available from the ,internal ,revenue ,service to reduce the amount of original data entry by applicants and strengthen the reliability of data used to calculate expected family contributions1 including through the use of technology to-- 7i7 allow an applicant to automatically populate the electronic version of the forms under this section with data available from the ,internal ,revenue ,service2 7ii7 direct an applicant to appropriate questions on such forms based on the applicant's answers to previous questions2 7iii7 identify the type of form filed and whether certain forms or schedules1 as identified by the ,secretary1 were filed with ,federal form #ajdj2 and 7iv7 allow an applicant to verify that the applicant or the family of the applicant did not file a ,federal tax return without additional action on the part of the student2 and 7,b7 allow single taxpayers1 married taxpayers filing jointly1 and married taxpayers filing separately to utilize such data retrieval tool to its full capacity4 7#b7 ,strengthening the ,,irs data retrieval tool ,the ,secretary shall work with the ,secretary of the ,treasury to expand the capabilities of the ,internal ,revenue ,service data retrieval tool by-- 7,a7 incorporating all fields from ,federal tax returns and ,w#b forms relevant to needs analysis2 and 7,b7 incorporating line items from forms and schedules identified by the ,secretary into the data retrieval tool4 7#c7 ,cross agency linkages 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 in coordination with the head of each agency that administers a specified means-tested ,federal benefits program1 shall examine how the agency can verify an applicant or an applicant's family's receipt of specified means-tested ,federal benefits in order to compute an expected family contribution for low-income students in order to simplify1 for students1 the application process for student financial assistance4 7,b7 ,automatic maximum ,federal ,pell ,grant ,the ,secretary shall ensure that a student who is described in section #dgc7;b77#c7 or whose adjusted gross income or family adjusted gross income is less than #cf1jjj annually during the #bd-month period preceding the date of the determination1 is a full-time student1 and submits a form under this section1 shall receive a maximum ,federal ,pell ,grant and a zero expected family contribution determination without additional action on the part of the student or the family of the student4 7,c7 ,part-time students ,the ,secretary shall ensure that a part-time student who is described in section #dgc7;b77#c7 and submits a form under this section shall receive a zero expected family contribution determination4 7#d7 ,report ,the ,secretary shall report to ,congress annually on the ,department's progress in maintaining and expanding the ,internal ,revenue ,service data retrieval tool and in establishing cross agency linkages1 as described in this subsection1 and simultaneously make such reports publicly available4 4 7b7 ,mobile use ,section #dhc7;a77#c7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajij7;a77#c77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7,i7 ,mobile device format ,the ,secretary shall make the electronic version of the forms under this paragraph available through a technology tool that can be used on mobile devices4 ,such technology tool shall1 at a minimum1 enable applicants to-- 7i7 save data2 and 7ii7 submit the electronic version of the forms under this paragraph to the ,secretary through such tool4 4 7c7 ,languages for ,,fafsa ,the ,secretary1 in conjunction with the ,director of the ,census ,bureau1 shall determine the most common languages spoken at home in the ,united ,states and shall develop versions of the ,,fafsa form in each of those languages4 7d7 ,outreach by financial aid advisors ,section #dhc of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajij et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7i7 ,outreach by financial aid advisors ,an institution of higher education may use information provided on a ,,fafsa to reach out to and counsel a student on the student's eligibility for means-tested benefits in which the student is not enrolled and outside scholarships for which a student is eligible4 4 #e4 ,definitions of total income and assets 7a7 ,total income ,section #dhj7;a77#a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhgvv7a77#a77 is amended to read as follows3 7#a7 ,in general ,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 the term total income is equal to-- 7,a7 in the case of an individual who has not filed1 and is not required to file1 any ,federal tax return or in the case of a qualified recipient of a means-tested ,federal benefits program1 as defined in section #dgc7;b77#c77;,b71 earned income for the second preceding tax year minus excludable income 7as defined in subsection 7e772 7,b7 in the case of an individual who filed a ,federal form #ajdj;,,ez1 #ajdj;,a1 or #ajdj with no forms or schedules1 adjusted gross income plus untaxed income and benefits for the second preceding tax year minus excludable income 7as defined in subsection 7e772 and 7,c7 in the case of an individual who filed a ,federal form #ajdj with forms or schedules or in the case of an individual who filed a foreign tax return in lieu of a ,federal tax return1 adjusted gross income plus untaxed income and benefits for the second preceding fiscal tax year minus excludable income 7as defined in subsection 7e774 4 7b7 ,conforming amendment ,section #dhj7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhgvv7a77 is amended-- 7#a7 by moving paragraph 7#b7 two ems to the right2 and 7#b7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking ,no portion and inserting the following3 ,amounts not included4--,no portion4 7c7 ,untaxed income and benefits ,section #dhj7;b7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhgvv7b77 is amended to read as follows3 7b7 ,untaxed income and benefits ,the term untaxed income and benefits means-- 7#a7 the aggregate amount of losses taken into account for determining adjusted gross income on ,federal form #ajdj2 7#b7 the amount of any tax-exempt interest income reported on ,federal form #ajdj2 and 7#c7 amounts of foreign income excluded from adjusted gross income and reported on ,federal form #beee4 4 7d7 ,excludable income ,section #dhj7;e7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhgvv7e77 is amended to read as follows3 7e7 ,the term excludable income means-- 7#a7 any student financial assistance awarded based on need as determined in accordance with the provisions of this part1 including any income earned from work under part ,c of this title2 and 7#b7 payments made and services provided under part ,e of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fgj et seq47 to or on behalf of any child or youth over whom the ,state agency has responsibility for placement1 care1 or supervision1 including the value of vouchers for education and training and amounts expended for room and board for youth who are not in foster care but are receiving services under section #dgg of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fgg74 4 7e7 ,assets ,section #dhj7;f77#a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhgvv7f77#a77 is amended by striking ,the term and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting the following3 7,a7 ,in determining the value of assets in a determination of need under this title-- 7i7 in the case of an individual who has not filed1 and is not required to file1 any ,federal tax return or in the case of a qualified recipient of a means-tested ,federal benefits program1 as defined in section #dgc7;b77#c77;,b71 the individual's assets shall be considered to be equal to zero2 and 7ii7 in the case of a parent of a dependent student or in the case of an independent student with dependents other than a spouse1 the individual's assets shall be considered to be equal to zero if that parent or independent student filed a ,federal form #ajdj;,,ez1 #ajdj;,a1 or #ajdj with no forms or schedules4 7,b7 ,in the case of an individual who filed a form #ajdj with forms or schedules1 the term assets means cash on hand1 including the amount in checking and savings accounts1 time deposits1 money market funds1 trusts1 stocks1 bonds1 other securities1 mutual funds1 tax shelters1 qualified education benefits 7except as provided in paragraph 7#c771 and the net value of real estate1 income producing property1 and business and farm assets1 excluding the primary home4 4 7f7 ,special combat pay ,section #dhj of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhgvv7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7j71 by striking paragraph 7#d72 and 7#b7 by striking subsection 7n74 #f4 ,eliminating unnecessary and burdensome questions 7a7 ,prohibition ,section #dhc7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajij7;a77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#ac7 ,prohibition of unnecessary and burdensome questions ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 the ,secretary shall not include on any form developed under this section a question about-- 7,a7 the applicant's criminal history1 registration for selective service1 net worth of a business or farm1 taxable earnings from need-based employment 7such as from a ,federal work-study program71 combat pay1 cooperative education program earnings1 and income from any source which is not taxable for the taxable year1 including income attributable to a pension or retirement plan1 interest on tax-exempt bonds1 military or clergy living allowance1 and veterans benefits 7other than education benefits72 and 7,b7 with respect to the applicant's parent1 taxable earnings from need-based employment 7such as from a ,federal work-study program71 college grant or scholarship aid reported to the ,internal ,revenue ,service1 combat pay1 cooperative education program earnings1 and income from any source which is not taxable for the taxable year1 including income attributable to a pension or retirement plan1 interest on tax-exempt bonds1 military or clergy living allowance1 and veterans benefits 7other than education benefits74 4 7b7 ,removing burdensome requirements 7#a7 ,in general ,part ,g of title ,,iv of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhh et seq47 is amended-- 7,a7 in section #dhd 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajia7-- 7i7 by striking subsections 7n7 and 7r72 and 7ii7 by redesignating subsections 7o71 7p71 7q71 7s71 and 7t7 as subsections 7n71 7o71 7p71 7q71 and 7r71 respectively2 and 7,b7 in section #dhe 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajib7-- 7i7 by striking subsection 7k72 and 7ii7 by redesignating subsections 7l7 and 7m7 as subsections 7k7 and 7l71 respectively4 7#b7 ,conforming amendments ,title ,,iv of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgj et seq47 is amended-- 7,a7 in each of subparagraphs 7,c7 and 7,d7 of section #dbh7;b77#c7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgh7;b77#c771 by striking #dhe7l7 and inserting #dhe7k72 7,b7 in section #dbh;,b7f77#b7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgh-b7;f77#b771 by striking #dhd7p7 and inserting #dhd7o72 7,c7 in each of subparagraphs 7,e7 and 7,f7 of section #dce7;d77#e7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhe7;d77#e771 by striking #dhe7l7 and inserting #dhe7k72 and 7,d7 in section #dhg7;e77#b77;,b77ii77,,iv7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajid7;e77#b77;,b77ii77,,iv771 by striking 7l7 of section #dhe and inserting 7k7 of section #dhe4 #g4 ,definitions for homeless and foster youth 7a7 ,independent student ,section #dhj7;d77#a77;,h7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhgvv7d77#a77;,h77 is amended-- 7#a7 in the matter preceding clause 7i7-- 7,a7 by striking during the school year in which the application is submitted2 7,b7 by inserting age #bc or younger after unaccompanied youth2 and 7,c7 by striking terms are and inserting term is2 7#b7 in clause 7i71 by inserting 1 or a designee of the liaison after ,act2 7#c7 in clause 7ii71 by striking a program funded under the ,runaway and ,homeless ,youth ,act and inserting an emergency or transitional shelter1 street outreach program1 homeless youth drop-in center1 or other program serving homeless youth12 and 7#d7 in clause 7iii71 by striking program funded under subtitle ,b of title ,,iv of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act 7relating to emergency shelter grants7 and inserting ,federal ,,trio program or a ,gaining ,early ,awareness and ,readiness for ,undergraduate program under chapter #a or #b of subpart #b of part ,a14 7b7 ,foster care children and youth ,section #ajc of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjc7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#be7 ,foster care children and youth ,the term foster care children and youth-- 7,a7 means children and youth whose care and placement are the responsibility of the ,state or ,tribal agency that administers a ,state or ,tribal plan under part ,b or ,e of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fba et seq4 and #fgj et seq471 without regard to whether foster care maintenance payments are made under section #dgb of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fgb7 on behalf of such children and youth2 and 7,b7 includes individuals who were age #ac or older when their care and placement were the responsibility of a ,state or ,tribal agency that administered a ,state or ,tribal plan under part ,b or ,e of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fba et seq4 and #fgj et seq47 and who are no longer under the care and responsibility of such a ,state or tribal agency1 without regard to any such individual's subsequent adoption1 guardianship arrangement1 or other form of permanency outcome4 4 #h4 ,streamlining determinations and verification for homeless and foster youth ,section #dhj7;d7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhgvv7d77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#c7 ,simplifying the determination process for unaccompanied youth 7,a7 ,verification ,a financial aid administrator shall accept a homelessness determination made by any individual authorized to make such determinations under clause 7i71 7ii71 or 7iii7 of paragraph 7#a77;,h7 in the absence of conflicting information4 ,a documented phone call with1 or a written statement from1 one of the authorized individuals is sufficient verification when needed4 ,for purposes of this paragraph1 a financial aid administrator's disagreement with the determination made by an authorized individual shall not be considered conflicting information4 7,b7 ,determination of independence ,a financial aid administrator shall make a determination of independence under paragraph 7#a77;,h7 if a student does not have1 and cannot get1 documentation from any of the other designated authorities described in such paragraph4 ,such a determination shall be-- 7i7 based on the definitions outlined in paragraph 7#a77;,h72 7ii7 distinct from a determination of independence under paragraph 7#a77;,i72 7iii7 based on a documented interview with the student2 and 7iv7 limited to whether the student meets the definitions in paragraph 7#a77;,h7 and not about the reasons for the student's homelessness4 7#d7 ,simplifying the verification process for foster children and youth 7,a7 ,verification of independence ,if an institution requires documentation to verify that a student is independent based on a status described in paragraph 7#a77;,b71 a financial aid administrator shall consider any of the following as adequate verification3 7i7 ,submission of a court order or official ,state documentation that the student received ,federal or ,state support in foster care4 7ii7 ,a documented phone call with1 or a written statement from-- 7,i7 a child welfare agency authorized by a ,state or county2 7,,ii7 a ,tribal child welfare authority2 7,,iii7 an ,independent ,living case worker2 7,,iv7 a public or private foster care placing agency or foster care facility or placement2 7,v7 another program serving orphans1 foster children and youth1 or wards of the court2 or 7,,vi7 a probation officer4 7iii7 ,a documented phone call with1 or a written statement from1 an attorney1 a guardian ad litem1 or a ,court ,appointed ,special ,advocate1 documenting that person's relationship to the student4 7iv7 ,a documented phone call with1 or a written statement from1 a representative of a ,federal ,,trio program or a ,gaining ,early ,awareness and ,readiness for ,undergraduate program under chapter #a or #b of subpart #b of part ,a4 7v7 ,verification of the student's eligibility for an education and training voucher under the ,john ,h4 ,chafee ,foster ,care ,independence ,program under section #dgg of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fgg74 7vi7 ,submission of a copy of the student's biological or adoptive parents'-- 7,i7 ,certificates of ,death2 or 7,,ii7 newspaper obituaries4 7vii7 ,an attestation from the student1 which includes a description of why the student may qualify for a status described in paragraph 7#a77;,b71 including the approximate dates that the student was in foster care1 dependent1 or a ward of the court1 to the best of the student's knowledge after making reasonable efforts to provide any requested documentation4 7,b7 ,additional streamlining permitted ,nothing in this paragraph prohibits an institution from implementing polices that streamline the determination of independent status and improve a student's access to financial aid because that student is an orphan1 in foster care1 or a ward of the court1 or was an orphan1 in foster care1 or a ward of the court at any time when the student was #ac years of age or older4 7#e7 ,timing2 use of earlier determination 7,a7 ,timing ,a determination under subparagraph 7,b7 or 7,h7 of paragraph 7#a7 for a student-- 7i7 shall be made as quickly as practicable2 7ii7 may be made as early as the year before the award year for which the student initially submits an application2 and 7iii7 shall be made no later than during the award year for which the student initially submits an application4 7,b7 ,use of earlier determination ,any student who is determined to be independent under subparagraph 7,b7 or 7,h7 of paragraph 7#a7 for a preceding award year at an institution shall be presumed to be independent for a subsequent award year at the same institution unless-- 7i7 the student informs the institution that circumstances have changed2 or 7ii7 the institution has specific conflicting information about the student's independence1 and has informed the student of this information and the opportunity to challenge such information through a documented interview or an impartial review by the ,student ,loan ,ombudsman pursuant to section #ada7;f77#c74 7#f7 ,retention of documents ,a financial aid administrator shall retain all documents related to the determination of independence under subparagraph 7,b7 or 7,h7 of paragraph 7#a71 including documented interviews1 for the duration of the student's enrollment at the institution and for a minimum of #a year after the student is no longer enrolled at the institution4 4 #i4 ,consolidating questions regarding homeless status on the fafsa ,section #dhc7;a77#d7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajij7;a77#d77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7,c7 ,single question regarding homeless status ,the ,secretary shall ensure that1 on each form developed under this section for which the information is applicable1 there is a single1 easily understood screening question to identify an applicant for aid who is-- 7i7 an unaccompanied homeless child or youth 7as such term is defined in section #gbe of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act72 or 7ii7 an unaccompanied youth who is self-supporting and at risk of homelessness4 4 #aj4 ,eligibility for ,dreamers ,section #dhd of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajia71 as amended by section #f7;b71 is further amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a77#e71 by inserting or be a ,dreamer student after becoming a citizen or permanent resident2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7s7 ,dreamer student 7#a7 ,in general ,in this section1 the term ,dreamer student means an alien 7as defined in section #aja7;a7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja7;a777 who-- 7,a7 has been continuously physically present in the ,united ,states for not less than the #d-year period preceding the date of enactment of the ,simplifying ,financial ,aid for ,students ,act of #bjah2 7,b7 was younger than #ah years of age on the date on which the alien initially entered the ,united ,states2 and 7,c7 7i7 has been admitted to an institution of higher education2 7ii7 has earned a high school diploma or a commensurate alternative award from a public or private high school1 or has obtained a general education development certificate recognized under ,state law or a high school equivalency diploma in the ,united ,states2 7iii7 is enrolled in secondary school or in an education program assisting students in obtaining a regular high school diploma or its recognized equivalent under ,state law1 or in passing a general educational development exam1 a high school equivalence diploma examination1 or other similar ,state-authorized exam1 and has made satisfactory progress in obtaining such diploma or passing such exam2 or 7iv7 7,i7 has served for not less than #d years in the uniformed services 7as defined in section #aja7;a7 of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code72 and 7,,ii7 in the case of an alien who has been discharged from the uniformed services1 has received an honorable discharge4 7#b7 ,hardship exception ,the ,secretary shall issue regulations that direct when the ,department shall waive the requirement of subparagraph 7,a7 or 7,b71 or both1 of paragraph 7#a7 for an individual to qualify as a ,dreamer student under such paragraph1 if the individual-- 7,a7 demonstrates compelling circumstances for the inability to satisfy the requirement of such subparagraph 7,a7 or 7,b71 or both2 and 7,b7 satisfies the requirement of paragraph 7#a77;,c74 4