The federal Lifeline assistance program provides eligible low-income households a subsidy for their home phone, mobile phone, and broadband internet services. To qualify, the consumer must meet income requirements and participate in certain government assistance programs.

Consumers must also complete a yearly re-certification process. This includes answering questions about the household and completing data sheets sent to them by their provider.

It Is A Federal Program

Telephone, and Internet services are essential to the modern economy, but not everyone can afford it. To help, the FCC established Lifeline, a program that provides low-income individuals with phone and Internet service discounts.

The program has undergone substantial revisions since its inception in 1984. The most recent, from 2016, concentrated on streamlining the subsidy scheme and increasing broadband availability. The FCC has also teamed up with private businesses to deliver bundled services to rural towns.

Eligible participants can receive a monthly discount on one home landline phone, wireless (cellular) line, and Internet service. To be eligible for Lifeline, households must have incomes at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines. In addition, a household must only have one Lifeline line per household, and more than one person cannot use it. The Federal Communications Commission also prohibits recipients from receiving discounts from multiple providers.

It Is A Government Program

Providing low-income consumers with a free or discounted phone has become essential for many families. They must keep in touch with their jobs, family, and emergency services. But, paying for a telephone can be a huge burden on these families. The Universal Service Administrative Company, a not-for-profit organization headquartered in Washington, DC, administers the Lifeline program. The program provides monthly subsidies for phones, broadband (high-speed internet), and bundled voice and broadband services to eligible households. These subsidies are provided through a network of authorized service lifeline cell phone service providers in California known as carriers. These carriers are partnered with USAC to offer low-cost plans available to Lifeline participants.

Consumers must first subscribe to a service with one of the partnering providers to be eligible for a Lifeline subsidy. Through the National Verifier Application System, a web-based database with direct access to government income and benefits data, the provider may afterward confirm their eligibility. All 50 states, all 50 territories, and all tribal areas have eligible inhabitants for the program.

It Is A Discount Program

The Lifeline program offers eligible households a monthly discount on phone, broadband, and bundled services. It also provides one-time discounts for Internet-capable devices like computers, tablets, and laptops. The program is subsidized by the Universal Service Fund (USF), a system of subsidies, fees, and funding designed to increase access to telecommunications services for low-income Americans. The Federal Communications Commission manages the USF.

Anyone who qualifies for the program based on their income and involvement in government assistance programs is welcome to apply. The income cutoff for qualifying is 135% of the federal poverty level. You must provide documentation proving your eligibility to apply. This can include pay stubs, tax returns, state-issued benefits cards, or letters from federal assistance programs such as Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Federal Public Housing Assistance, Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit, Social Security Disability Insurance, or Supplemental Security Income. Other documents, such as state-issued ID cards, may also be accepted.

It Is A Tax-Free Program

The Lifeline program was created to assist low-income households in connecting to phone and internet networks. The program provides a monthly discount on wireless broadband-voice bundles or home phone services. In addition, the program also offers discounted internet service plans offered by many service providers. You must be a subscriber to a Lifeline-approved service provider and demonstrate your income eligibility to be eligible for the program. You can accomplish this by giving the service provider your state-specific verification number and income documentation.

For qualified customers who satisfy the qualifications, Lifeline is a free program. Anyone with a family income at least 135% below the state’s poverty level is eligible for the program. This sum for a one-person household in 2022 is $18,347. In addition, individuals with disabilities may be eligible for the program if they have a permanent and severe disability that limits their ability to engage in substantial gainful activity.

There are two ways to qualify for Lifeline: income-based or program-based. Income-based eligibility is based on household income and includes government assistance programs such as Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP benefits, Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, and certain federally recognized Tribal assistance programs. Program-based eligibility requires a valid document or letter proving that you, your spouse, or your children participate in one of these programs.

It Is A Non-Transferrable Program

To be eligible for Lifeline, you must have a household income at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines. Your income may be based on the amount of money you or your family receives from government assistance programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Federal Public Housing Assistance, Medicaid, Medicare Part D prescription drug benefits, Veterans Administration Benefits, SSI, TANF, and Tribal Assistance.

Additionally, you must not receive any other Lifeline-supported telephone services or broadband Internet access from another provider, be a US citizen or lawful permanent resident, and have a working Social Security number. Additionally, it would be best if you annually recertified your eligibility. To accomplish this, use your phone’s pre-recorded message, the mail, or the internet.

The re-certification process involves querying the appropriate income databases to confirm that you still meet the eligibility requirements for Lifeline. If you do not respond to the carrier’s re-certification efforts, they will de-enroll you from the program. It is important to respond to these efforts because violating the one-per-household rule could result in fines or imprisonment.