Lifeline Phone and Internet Help

Lifeline is a federal discount that takes up to $9.25 a month off phone or internet service for people with low income. If you're behind on your phone bill or worried it'll be cut off, this can help. The FCC runs it. A group that works for the FCC checks who qualifies, through a system called the National Verifier. Then a phone or internet company that takes part gives you the discount.

You may qualify if

• You or someone you live with gets Medicaid, SSI, SNAP, federal public housing help, or a Veterans or Survivors Pension.
• Or your household income is at or under $21,546 a year for one person, or $29,214 for two, in 2026.
• No one you share money with already has Lifeline.

Not sure you qualify? Apply anyway, because the National Verifier makes the call, and if you're on Medicaid or SSI, your income doesn't matter. If you would rather not do it alone, a Pair Team advocate can check with you in one call.

What you can get

Did the Affordable Connectivity Program end?

Yes, the Affordable Connectivity Program ended on June 1, 2024, because Congress did not add more money. Lifeline is a different program, and it's still open. The ACP stopped taking new households in February 2024. The FCC has warned that some company websites still advertise the ACP, and some even ask for your personal details. If you see one, you can report it at fcc.gov/complaints.

Can I use Lifeline for internet?

Yes, you can put the Lifeline discount on home internet, or on a cell phone plan that comes with data. A plan with calls only gets less, up to $5.25. You pick one service, because each household gets one Lifeline discount. If your plan has no monthly bill, use it at least once every 30 days, or you can lose it.

A household is everyone at your address who shares money and bills. If you live with a grown child but pay your own way, you may be your own household. You may be asked to fill out a household worksheet.

What counts as income?

Income that counts is your income before taxes, plus the income of everyone you share money with. That includes Social Security, pensions and wages. The limit is 135% of the federal poverty line, which in 2026 is $21,546 a year for one person. Add $7,668 for each extra person, though Alaska and Hawaii have higher limits. If you're on Medicaid, SSI or SNAP, you skip the income test.

How to apply

1. Find a company that takes Lifeline, since only those can give the discount. Use Companies Near Me at LifelineSupport.org, or ask your own phone or internet company.
2. Apply with the National Verifier, because it decides who qualifies. You can apply online at LifelineSupport.org, by mail, or with the company's help. People in Texas and Oregon use their state's own process.
3. Show proof if asked, since the system checks government records first. If it can't find you, send a copy of your Medicaid card, SSI letter or SNAP notice, or proof of income. Papers must be from the last 12 months.
4. Sign up with the company once you're approved and pick a plan, so the company can put the discount on your bill.
5. Renew every year, though sometimes this happens on its own. If you're asked to confirm you still qualify and don't answer, you lose the discount.

If you have questions, call the Lifeline Support Center at 1-800-234-9473.

What a Pair Team advocate does

A working phone is how your doctor's office, your pharmacy and our care team reach you. When the phone gets cut off, refills and visits slip, and we can't call to help. Here's what we do:

• Check, in one call, whether you can get Lifeline, and California LifeLine if you live there.
• Help you apply through the National Verifier and send in the proof it asks for.
• Find a company near you that takes Lifeline, and remind you when it's time to renew.
• Help with what usually comes with it: utility bills, food, Medicaid paperwork and rides.

An advocate is covered by Medicare if you qualify. It takes two minutes to find out.

Check if you qualify for a Pair Team advocate

Frequently asked questions

Is Lifeline a free government phone?

Lifeline is a discount on service, not a free government phone, and the FCC does not pay for phones. If a company offers you one, ask what you'll pay each month after the discount.

Can I get Lifeline on my cell phone and my home internet?

No, you can't get Lifeline on both your cell phone and your home internet, because each household gets one discount. Choose the service you'd miss most.

What if the National Verifier says no?

If the National Verifier says no, check the reason it gives. If it couldn't match you to a program's records, you can send a copy of your benefit letter or income papers. You can do this online or through the company.

Does having Medicare qualify me?

Having Medicare does not qualify you by itself, because Medicare is not on the list. But if you also have Medicaid, or you get SSI or SNAP, you qualify.

Is the FCC changing Lifeline?

The FCC opened a review of Lifeline on February 18, 2026. For now, its Lifeline page, last updated in March 2026, still lists up to $9.25 a month.

Find the rules for your state

• California: California LifeLine adds up to $19 a month, with a higher income limit. Since February 2026, you sign up for the state and federal discounts separately.

In New York and every other state, apply for federal Lifeline through the National Verifier or a company that offers it. For help, call 1-800-234-9473.

Sources

• Lifeline Support for Affordable Communications, FCC
• Consumer Eligibility, USAC
• Lifeline, LifelineSupport.org (USAC)
• Affordable Connectivity Program, FCC
• California LifeLine vs Federal Lifeline, CPUC