to read as follows: 473. Student aid index (a) In general For the purpose of this title, other than subpart 1 or 2 of part A, the term student aid index means, with respect to a student, an index that reflects an evaluation of a student’s approximate financial resources to contribute toward the student’s postsecondary education for the academic year, as determined in accordance with this part. (b) Special rule for students eligible for the total maximum pell grant The Secretary shall consider an applicant to automatically have a student aid index equal to zero if the applicant is eligible for the total maximum Federal Pell Grant under subpart 1 of part A, except if the applicant has a calculated student aid index of less than zero the Secretary shall consider the negative number as the student aid index for the applicant. (c) Special rule for nonfilers For an applicant (or, as applicable, an applicant and spouse, or an applicant’s parents) not required filed a Federal tax return for the applicable tax year, the Secretary shall for the purposes of this title consider the student aid index as equal to −$1,500 for the applicant. (d) Special rule for recipients of means-Tested benefits For an applicant (including the student, the student’s parent, or the student’s spouse, as applicable) who at any time during the previous 24-month period was a recipient of a means-tested Federal benefit program, the Secretary shall consider an applicant to automatically have a student aid index equal to zero, except if the applicant has a calculated student aid index of less than zero the Secretary shall consider the negative number as the student aid index for the applicant. (e) Means-Tested Federal benefit program In this section, the term means-tested Federal benefit program means any of the following: (1) The supplemental security income program under title XVI of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.). (2) The supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).