; (v) the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children established by section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786 ); and (vi) any other program determined by the Secretary to be appropriate based on— (I) the reliability under which the need for benefits from the program is established; and (II) the feasibility of data linkages. . (b) Simplified needs test Section 479 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087ss ) is amended to read as follows: 479. Simplified needs tests (a) Simplified application section (1) 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 483(a) for families described in subsections (b) and (c) of this section. (2) Reduced data requirements The simplified application form shall— (A) in the case of a family meeting the requirements of subsection (b)(1), permit such family to submit only the data elements required under subsection (b)(2) for the purposes of establishing eligibility for student financial aid under this part; and (B) in the case of a family meeting the requirements of subsection (c), 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 (c). (b) Simplified needs test (1) Eligibility An applicant is eligible to file a simplified form containing the elements required by paragraph (2) if— (A) the applicant did not file and was not required to file any Federal tax return during the 24-month period preceding the date of the determination of eligibility; (B) the applicant, or, in the case of an applicant who is a dependent student, the applicant's parent, participated in a means-tested Federal benefits program, as described in section 473(b)(3)(B), during the 24-month period preceding the date of the determination of eligibility