The Lifeline program helps low-income consumers lower monthly phone and internet service costs. You may qualify if you participate in a government benefit program, such as SNAP or Medicaid, or if your income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines.
If you’re unsure if you qualify, check with your local phone company. They will be able to tell you more about the program and how to apply.
How Do I Apply For Lifeline?
The price of phone service is among the most crucial factors. Lifeline allows many Americans to get the mobile technology they need to stay connected.
In its most basic form, Lifeline is a program that pays eligible consumers to receive a small discount off the regular retail price of their cell phone and/or home internet service. The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) portal allows you to check if you are a Lifeline candidate, which is a great way to lower your monthly bill.
There are a few ways to benefit from this program, but the simplest is to locate a participating provider and request their services. Once you are on board, you may be pleasantly surprised by the discounts and freebies you’ll be eligible for. Check out the program’s website for more details, and give it a shot. The amount of money you can save on your home internet and/or mobile phone bills may surprise you. The good news is that as long as the new business participates in the program, you can always switch lifeline service providers and transfer your benefits.
What Happens If I Don’t Qualify For Lifeline?
If you don’t qualify for Lifeline, knowing what happens next is essential. While the lifeline program help low-income consumers pay for a free phone and service, it also comes with strict regulations that can make the program hard to use or even disqualify you from the program entirely.
The federal government is tightening its rules to prevent fraud, waste and abuse. This has led to a significant drop in the number of people receiving Lifeline.
One reason is the FCC’s new screening system that tries to automatically verify eligibility. But the plan lacks access to critical federal and state databases, which means it’s not working as intended.
Another area for improvement is duplicate addresses. If you live in more than one address, you must prove each location is an independent economic household by submitting a Household Worksheet.
This worksheet is available online or via the consumer portal. You can also complete it manually by mailing it to the Lifeline Support Center.
If you don’t qualify for Lifeline, you can find help at your local Social Security office or by visiting a community clinic or hospital. You may also be eligible for Medicare or Medicaid, joint federal/state programs that provide health insurance to some low-income people.
What is Lifeline?
A federal program called Lifeline assists low-income consumers by lowering the cost of phone and broadband services. It is available in every state, commonwealth, territory, and Tribal land.
It is a government-funded program managed by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). It is designed to help low-income people stay connected to their communities. It also supports programs that allow people to find jobs, learn new skills, access health care and more.
To qualify for Lifeline, you must meet specific eligibility requirements. You will receive a monthly discount on your phone or broadband service if you are eligible.
A Lifeline discount can be applied to a wireline and wireless connection, but you cannot have more than one discount per household.
The Affordable Connectivity Program offers an additional broadband service discount for people residing on tribal lands. ACP also provides a one-time deal of up to $100 toward an internet-capable device.
Lifeline and the ACP are both federally funded programs, which means they are legitimate. These programs are run by USAC and are part of the FCC’s efforts to make affordable telecommunications accessible to low-income Americans.
Who is Lifeline For?
Lifeline is a federal program that provides subscribers a discount on qualifying monthly telephone service, broadband Internet access service or bundled voice-broadband packages purchased from participating wireline or wireless providers. This helps ensure that low-income consumers can afford telecommunications services to connect to jobs, family, health and emergency services.
Eligible households include those who meet a few basic income eligibility requirements, which vary by state or territory. Lifeline benefits are generally available to consumers with a household income below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (or the guideline specific to your state).
You must prove your income with documentation, such as pay stubs, tax returns, or other forms. In addition, you must show that you or a household member receives benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit or specific Tribal programs.
If you are eligible for Lifeline, you may also qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a federal benefit that replaced the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB). The ACP offers eligible households a monthly internet service discount of up to $30 and eligible homes on tribal lands a monthly discount of up to $75.
Consumers eligible for Lifeline and ACP should check with their local telecommunications provider to see which benefits they qualify for. In most cases, they can apply their ACP benefits to Lifeline discounts.
