Lifeline: Free or Discounted Phone & Internet
The federal Lifeline program reduces phone and internet costs for low-income households. Many qualify for free service.
What Lifeline is
Lifeline is a federal program run by the FCC that reduces the monthly cost of phone or broadband internet service for eligible low-income households. Up to $9.25/month off your bill (or $34.25/month if you live on Tribal lands).
Many providers stack Lifeline with their own discounts and promotions, often making service completely free for qualifying households.
Need help applying? Call the Lifeline Support Center at 1-800-234-9473 (Mon–Fri, 9am–9pm ET) or visit lifelinesupport.org.
What you can use it for
You can apply the Lifeline discount to one of these per household:
- Mobile phone service
- Home phone (landline) service
- Broadband internet service (home or mobile)
- A bundled voice + data service
The choice is yours — pick whatever your household needs most.
Who qualifies
Either of these:
1. Income-based qualification
Your household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Level:
- $20,331 for a household of 1
- $27,594 for a household of 2
- $42,120 for a household of 4
2. Program-based qualification (easier — usually instant)
You or someone in your household participates in:
- Medicaid
- SNAP (food stamps)
- SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8 / housing voucher)
- Veterans Pension or Survivors Pension
- Certain Tribal programs (Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, Tribal Head Start)
If you already have any of those, you almost certainly qualify for Lifeline.
How to apply
- Apply through the National Verifier at checklifeline.org.
- Submit proof of eligibility — usually a benefits letter or pay stub. The system can often verify automatically.
- Get approved — most decisions are instant for program-based applicants.
- Pick a provider. Use the National Verifier's "Companies Near Me" tool to find Lifeline-participating providers in your ZIP code.
- Sign up with the provider. Apply your Lifeline benefit at signup. They'll handle the rest.
Combine with the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
Update for 2026: The ACP, which provided up to $30/month off internet, ended in May 2024 when funding ran out. Lifeline is now the primary federal benefit for telecom. Some states have launched their own programs to fill the gap — check with your state PUC.
Annual recertification
You'll need to recertify your eligibility once a year. The National Verifier will email or mail you a reminder. Don't miss it — failing to recertify ends your benefit.
A note from us
Lifeline is one of the most underused federal benefits. If you're on Medicaid or SNAP, you almost certainly qualify and can get free or near-free phone or internet. A team members can tell you which providers participate in your area and how to enroll. Call (844) 572-3682 and we'll point you to the right one.
Need help finding the right call?
A team members know which office, phone number, and program fits your situation. Free, in five minutes.