The Lifeline program discounts home phone, mobile, and broadband services to low-income consumers. Applicants may apply online or through a state administrator.
The Lifeline program helps eliminate barriers to telecommunications service. It is available in every state, commonwealth, territory, and Tribal land.
What is Lifeline?
Lifeline is a federal program that discounts monthly phone service, broadband Internet access, or bundled voice-broadband packages purchased from participating wireline and wireless providers. Lifeline is available to eligible low-income consumers in every state, commonwealth, and territory and helps ensure that everyone can connect to jobs, family, and emergency services.
The program has helped millions of Americans who would otherwise not have the funds to purchase phones. The Lifeline benefit saves you money on your monthly phone bill, giving you more money for essentials like groceries and clothing.
Additionally, PA seniors who meet the requirements can get free phones from phone services like enTouch Wireless. Other states can take advantage of the program and guarantee that every American has access to necessary communication services as more people become aware of the Lifeline phone service.
As an Assurance Wireless Lifeline customer, you will receive free voice minutes, text messages, and data each month on a base plan. However, you must use your phone service to place a call, send a text or go online (not using Wi-Fi) at least once every 30 days to keep your Lifeline benefit intact. If you don’t do this, your service will be terminated, and you’ll need to re-apply.
Assurance Wireless offers affordable plans for low-income customers who meet FCC requirements for Lifeline assistance. Assurance Wireless’ plans are easy to use and provide reliable coverage on one of the nation’s largest 4G LTE/5G networks.
The Lifeline program also has various additional benefits, including enhanced Lifeline for low-income residents of Tribal lands and Link Up. Under the Link Up program, certain providers that offer telephone service on Tribal grounds reduce their initial installation or activation fees when customers who qualify apply for the Lifeline discount and agree to make the remainder of the remaining balance payment deferred interest-free.
Who is Eligible for Lifeline?
Anyone living in a low-income household is eligible for Lifeline. The program is available in every state, commonwealth, territory, and Tribal land in the United States.
Eligible customers may receive a discount on their telephone or broadband Internet access service (minimum 25 Mbps downstream/3 Mbps upstream with a monthly usage allowance of 1024 Gigabytes). The discounted charge is applicable to local voice-only telephone service, stand-alone broadband Internet access service, or broadband Internet access service as part of a bundled package.
Applicants must provide a valid Social Security Number and proof of participation in an eligible government assistance program or income at or below the federal poverty guidelines. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in a customer being de-enrolled from the Lifeline program, fined, or even jailed.
The Lifeline discount is only available for one Lifeline-supported service – fixed or mobile (cellular) voice telephone service or broadband Internet access service – per household. Households can only receive discounts on multiple service providers if there is a notable exception, such as for teletypewriter users.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a new federal government free government phone program that brings connectivity to low-income households. Qualifying households can get a Google Play-certified Android LTE smartphone and free monthly wireless service.
How do I Apply for Lifeline?
Lifeline is a federal program that lowers the cost of phone and internet service. It is available to eligible low-income consumers in every state, commonwealth, and territory.
The Lifeline discount can be applied to either landline or wireless services. The value can also be transferred from one service to another only once.
To apply for Lifeline, customers must verify their eligibility using a state government database or proof of participation in an eligible program. They must also recertify annually to keep their benefits current.
Many customers who qualify for Lifeline can use their savings towards mobile data plans and bundled voice/broadband services. This allows them to save even more money each month.
Many states offer the Lifeline Telephone Assistance program to help income-eligible customers reduce their monthly phone bills. This assistance includes a bill credit, a waiver of the federal subscriber line charge for landline customers, and a reduced rate for wireless customers.
Residents can also benefit from a new program that helps pay for setting up a landline or wireless account. These programs assist families, senior citizens, and people with disabilities in New York.
Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program are two federally-funded programs that provide phone and broadband service discounts for eligible households. Both programs reduce the monthly cost of phone and broadband services, including a one-time deal on an internet-capable device for qualified families.
What are the Requirements for Lifeline?
Lifeline is a government-funded discount program that helps lower the cost of home phone service for low-income households. The requirements vary by state, but you must meet specific income and household size guidelines to qualify.
For example, a household must have a total income below the Federal Poverty Guidelines (or a policy specific to your state). If your family includes children, you must also complete a Lifeline Household Worksheet to determine eligibility.
The Lifeline program offers discounts on the home telephone and internet services for eligible subscribers who participate in specific low-income assistance programs or have income below the minimum eligibility guidelines. These benefits are only available for a single service line per household and are applicable to landline and wireless connections.
Suppose you’re a new resident and qualify for Lifeline. In that case, you can apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides an additional monthly discount on broadband service and a one-time deal on a device that can access the Internet.
Unlike the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB), a temporary program that replaced the E-Banner, the ACP is a long-term discount program that aims to provide more affordable access to the Internet for more households. To find out if you qualify, contact your local telecommunications provider.
