; or (3) in the case of an independent student without dependents other than a spouse, the sum of the adjusted gross income of the student and the student's spouse (if appropriate) is less than or equal to 250 percent of the poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management and Budget, and revised annually in accordance with section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9902(2) )) applicable to a family of the size involved. (c) Adjustments An individual is not required to qualify or file for the earned income credit in order to be eligible under this subsection. The Secretary shall annually adjust the income level necessary to qualify an applicant for the zero expected family contribution. The income level shall be adjusted according to increases in the Consumer Price Index, as defined in section 478(f). . (b) Adjustments in income protection allowances For each academic year, the Secretary of Education shall continue to publish in the Federal Register a revised table of income protection allowances pursuant to section 478(b)(1)(A) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087rr(b)(1)(A) ). 4. State responsibility (a) Maintenance of effort requirements Section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1070a ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (k) Institutional ineligibility based on failure of State To maintain higher education appropriations level (1) In general Each State that receives funds under this Act shall maintain expenditures and State financial aid for institutions of higher education in the State, with respect to a fiscal year, at an amount that is equal to or more than the average amount of State expenditures and State financial aid for institutions of higher education in the State for the 10 fiscal years preceding such fiscal year. (2) Consequences of failure to maintain effort Notwithstanding any other provision of law and beginning 5 years after the date of enactment of the Degrees Not Debt Act of 2018 , the Secretary shall not make a