A phone is not a luxury for most households. It is how you receive a call back from a job you applied to, how you reach your child’s school in an emergency, how you access telehealth appointments, and how you apply for the very assistance programs designed to help you. When the monthly cost of staying connected becomes a choice between communication and something more immediately urgent, a federal program called Lifeline exists specifically to close that gap.
The Lifeline Assistance Program has been in operation since 1985, when the Federal Communications Commission created it to make phone service affordable for low-income households. The program has evolved significantly since then. What started as a landline phone discount now covers both wireless phone service and broadband internet, reflecting the way communication itself has changed. Today, Lifeline is one of the most widely used federal assistance programs in the country, providing discounts to eligible households in all 50 states, Washington D.C., and U.S. territories.
What the Program Actually Provides
Lifeline works by providing a monthly discount on the cost of phone or internet service. The standard federal discount is $9.25 per month applied to a qualifying plan. For households located on Tribal lands, the discount increases to $34.25 per month, reflecting the greater cost and limited availability of communication services in those areas.
The discount applies to one account per household. It can be applied to a wireless phone plan, a home internet plan, or a bundled plan that includes both, but only one service per household receives the benefit. That means two members of the same household cannot each claim a separate Lifeline discount. The benefit follows the household, not the individual.
Participating carriers set their own plan structures and pricing, so what you actually receive in service varies depending on which provider you choose. Some carriers offer a free phone with a qualifying plan when you enroll in Lifeline. Others apply the discount to an existing account. Shopping around among the carriers in your area is worth doing before enrolling, since both the plan quality and the out-of-pocket cost after the discount is applied can differ significantly from one provider to another.
Who Qualifies for Lifeline
Eligibility is based on either income or participation in a qualifying government assistance program. On the income side, your household income must be at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. For a single-person household in 2024, that threshold is approximately $19,683 per year. For a four-person household, it rises to approximately $40,331 per year.
On the program participation side, you automatically qualify if anyone in your household currently receives benefits from one of the following programs: Medicaid, SNAP, Supplemental Security Income, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit. Participation in certain Tribal-specific programs also qualifies households on Tribal lands for the enhanced discount.
You do not need to qualify through both income and program participation. Meeting either one of those criteria is sufficient to establish eligibility. If you are already receiving SNAP or Medicaid benefits, you almost certainly qualify for Lifeline as well.
How to Apply
Applications for Lifeline are processed through the Universal Service Administrative Company, which manages the program on behalf of the FCC. The fastest way to apply is through the National Verifier at lifelinesupport.org. That portal lets you check your eligibility, submit your application, and upload documentation all in one place. Most applications are processed within a few business days.
The documents you need to apply depend on how you are qualifying. If you are applying based on income, you will need to provide proof such as a recent tax return, pay stubs, or a statement of benefits. If you are applying based on program participation, a current award letter or benefit statement from the qualifying program is sufficient. Make sure the documentation shows your name and the current benefit or income amount, as expired or incomplete documents are the most common reason applications are delayed.
Once your application is approved through the National Verifier, you choose a participating carrier in your area and enroll in a qualifying plan. The discount is then applied to your monthly bill automatically. You do not need to reapply each time your bill is due, but you are required to recertify your eligibility once per year to confirm you still qualify.
Keeping Your Benefit Active
Annual recertification is the step most people miss. Each year, Lifeline enrollees receive a notice asking them to confirm they still meet the eligibility requirements. This is done through the National Verifier portal or by working with your carrier. Failing to complete recertification within the required window results in removal from the program, and you would need to reapply from the beginning to restore the benefit.
You are also required to use your Lifeline service at least once every 30 days. For wireless plans, that means making or receiving a call, sending a text, or using data. For internet plans, it means actively using the service. If your account shows no usage for 30 consecutive days, your carrier is required to notify you and give you a brief window to resume use before removing you from the program. This rule exists to prevent households from holding benefits they are not actively using, but it catches people off guard when they rely heavily on Wi-Fi and forget to use their cellular service.
If your income or household circumstances change during the year in a way that affects your eligibility, you are required to report that change. Receiving Lifeline benefits after no longer qualifying is a program violation that can result in repayment of past benefits and disqualification from future participation.
What Lifeline Does Not Cover
Lifeline is a discount program, not a free service guarantee. In most cases, there will still be a monthly cost even after the discount is applied, unless your carrier offers a plan whose full price falls at or below the $9.25 discount amount. Reviewing the actual plan cost and what is included before enrolling avoids surprises on the first bill.
The program also does not cover device costs beyond what individual carriers choose to offer as part of enrollment promotions. If you need a new phone and your carrier does not include one with your plan, that is a separate cost the program does not address.
For households that need internet access specifically, it is worth checking whether any state-level broadband assistance programs operate in your area alongside Lifeline. Some states have created their own internet access programs that can stack with or supplement the federal Lifeline benefit, increasing the total monthly discount available to qualifying households.
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