1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Equitable Student Aid Access Act . 2. Zero expected family contribution Section 479 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087ss ) is amended to read as follows: 479. Zero expected family contribution (a) In general The Secretary shall consider an applicant to have an expected family contribution equal to zero if— (1) in the case of a dependent student— (A) (i) the student’s parents are not required to file— (I) a Federal income tax return; or (II) with respect to Internal Revenue Service Form 1040, any of the following forms: Schedule A, Schedule B, Schedule C, Schedule C–EZ, Schedule D, Schedule E, Schedule F, Schedule H, Schedule J, and Schedule SE; and (ii) the sum of the adjusted gross income of the parents is less than or equal to $34,000; or (B) the student’s parents, or the student, received a benefit at some time during the previous 24-month period under a means-tested Federal benefit program; or (2) in the case of an independent student without regard to whether the student has dependents other than a spouse— (A) (i) the student (and the student’s spouse, if any) certifies— (I) that the student (and the student’s spouse, if any)— (aa) is not required to file a Federal income tax return; or (bb) with respect to Internal Revenue Service Form 1040, any of the following forms: Schedule A, Schedule B, Schedule C, Schedule C–EZ, Schedule D, Schedule E, Schedule F, Schedule H, Schedule J, and Schedule SE; and (ii) the sum of the adjusted gross income of the student and spouse (if appropriate) is less than or equal to $34,000