Lifeline: The FCC Phone and Internet Discount, Who Qualifies, and How to Keep It

What the Lifeline program is

Lifeline started in 1985 to make home phone service affordable. Today it supports mobile phone plans, home internet, and bundles of the two. The money comes from the Universal Service Fund, which phone and internet companies pay into and often pass on to customers as a small line on their bills.

Three groups play a part, and it helps to know who does what:

• The FCC writes the rules, such as the discount amount and the income limit.
• USAC runs the program. It operates the National Verifier, which decides who qualifies, and handles the yearly recertification.
• Participating companies, called eligible telecommunications carriers, give the discount on your bill. Not every company takes part, and the ones that do vary by state and ZIP code.

Lifeline is not a phone giveaway program, even though many ads describe it that way. The benefit is a discount on monthly service. Some companies add a free or low-cost phone as their own offer. If the phone itself is what you care about, our guide to 5G government phones explains what providers include and how to compare them. This page focuses on the program rules.

How much the discount is worth

The discount depends on the kind of service you choose and where you live. USAC lists these support levels:

• Broadband, or a bundle that meets the broadband standard: up to $9.25 a month.
• Voice-only service: $5.25 a month. The FCC had planned to phase this out, but on July 1, 2026, it paused the phase-out for another year, so USAC says voice-only support continues through November 30, 2027.
• Tribal lands: an extra amount of up to $25 a month, bringing the broadband discount to up to $34.25.
• Tribal Link Up: under FCC rule 47 CFR 54.413, eligible Tribal residents can get up to $100 off the charge to start service with certain carriers.

Many mobile carriers set their Lifeline plans so the discount covers the full price, which is why you see "free" plans. Home internet usually costs more than $9.25, so expect a lower bill rather than a free one. To qualify for support, a plan has to meet federal minimum service standards, which USAC posts and updates each year.

Two ways to qualify

You can qualify by taking part in a listed program or by income. You only need one.

Through a program you already use

USAC's consumer eligibility page lists these programs. It counts if you, your child, or another dependent in your household takes part.

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), including the nutrition programs in Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands
• Medicaid
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance, such as public housing or Housing Choice Vouchers
• Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit

On Tribal lands, four more programs count: Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribally Administered TANF, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, and Tribal Head Start (only for households that also meet the income standard).

Notice what is not on the list: Social Security retirement, unemployment, WIC, and regular TANF outside Tribal lands do not qualify you on their own. You may still qualify by income. If you might be eligible for SNAP but have not applied, our SNAP calculator gives a rough idea, and getting SNAP would open the door to Lifeline too.

Through income

Your gross household income, before taxes, must be at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines. The table below turns USAC's 2026 yearly limits for the 48 contiguous states, DC, and the territories into monthly amounts, since most people think in monthly pay. Alaska and Hawaii have higher limits, listed on USAC's page.

Monthly figures are the yearly limit divided by 12 and rounded down. The limits change once a year after HHS updates the poverty guidelines, usually in the first months of the year. If you qualify by income, you will likely need proof, such as a prior year's tax return, three months of pay stubs, or a Social Security benefit letter.

The one-per-household rule

Lifeline allows only one benefit per household. For this program, USAC defines a household as everyone living at the same address who shares income and household expenses. That is about money, not about who is related to whom.

Some examples make it clearer:

• A married couple who share bills is one household. Only one of them can have Lifeline.
• Two unrelated roommates who each pay their own share and keep separate money can be two households. Each can have Lifeline.
• An adult child living with parents who pays part of the bills but shares food and expenses is usually part of the parents' household.
• Several families in one building with separate units and separate finances are separate households.

When a second person at the same address applies, USAC asks for a Household Worksheet. You use it to show that you do not share income and expenses with the person who already has Lifeline. Answer it honestly. Having two benefits in one household breaks the program rules, and the extra one will be removed.

How to apply for Lifeline

Every application goes through the National Verifier, USAC's system for checking eligibility, except in Texas and Oregon, which run their own systems. According to USAC's National Verifier instructions, you can apply in three ways:

1. Online on your own through the consumer portal at LifelineSupport.org, from a computer or phone.
2. By mail, using the official Lifeline Application Form (and the Household Worksheet if needed), sent to the Lifeline Support Center at the address printed on the form.
3. With a participating company, which can help you apply in person through its own portal. The company cannot sign for you or take your application by phone.

The National Verifier first tries to confirm your eligibility automatically by checking government databases. If it cannot, it asks you to upload proof. For the program path, that is usually a benefit letter or card that shows your name, the program, and a current date. You will also need to confirm your identity and address.

Being approved is only half the job. After the National Verifier says you qualify, you must sign up with a participating company to start getting the discount. USAC's mail instructions recommend writing in capital letters with black ink and including copies of your ID and eligibility proof, which can speed up review.

State programs that work differently

A few states add their own rules or money on top of the federal program.

• Texas and Oregon are what USAC calls opt-out states. They check eligibility through their own systems instead of the National Verifier. Your phone company or the state program will tell you how to apply.
• California runs California LifeLine through the state Public Utilities Commission, with its own discounts for home and cell phone service and a home broadband pilot.
• Oregon also offers a state discount through its Oregon Telephone Assistance Program, managed by the Oregon PUC.

Some other states have small add-on discounts or extra rules. Your state utility commission's website is the best place to check.

Lifeline help for survivors

The Safe Connections Act created a separate path for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and related crimes. USAC's Safe Connections Act page says survivors facing financial hardship can get emergency Lifeline support for up to six months when they pursue a line separation request, which lets them take their number off a shared plan with an abuser. The discount is the same: up to $9.25, or $34.25 on Tribal lands. After six months, survivors can apply for regular Lifeline if they qualify.

If you are in danger, call 911. For confidential support, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-7233.

Rules and deadlines for keeping Lifeline

Most people who lose Lifeline do not lose it because their income went up. They lose it because they missed a notice. These are the time limits that matter.

The recertification rules come from USAC's recertification page. Each year USAC first runs an automatic database check. If it confirms you still qualify, you do nothing. If not, you get a letter or email with Form 5630 and must answer within 60 days. Open mail from USAC and your carrier promptly.

The usage rule, in 47 CFR 54.405, applies to plans with no monthly fee. Using the service means making a call, sending a text, using data, or answering an incoming call, among other actions. One text a month keeps you safe.

If you move, update your address with your carrier. If you want a different company, you can usually transfer your benefit by signing up with the new carrier, though some companies have rules about how often you can switch. Ask before you change.

Why applications get stuck

Most delays have simple causes. Check these before you call for help.

• Name mismatch. The name on your ID, benefit letter, and application must match. A married name on one and a maiden name on another can stop an application.
• Old proof. Benefit letters usually need to be current, often from the last 12 months. Request a fresh one from your SNAP or Medicaid office if needed.
• Someone else at your address already has Lifeline. Fill out the Household Worksheet if you are a separate household.
• Address problems. Rural routes, new buildings, and shelters sometimes fail the address check. You can add a note or describe your location in the application.
• Approved but not enrolled. If you were approved but never picked a carrier, you are not getting the discount. Sign up with a company.

If a public benefit you rely on, like Medicaid, ends or changes, your Lifeline may end too. Our Medicaid guide explains recent changes to coverage and renewals.

From application to service, step by step

1. Check which path fits you: a qualifying program or income at or below 135% of poverty.
2. Gather proof: a current benefit letter, or income documents, plus a photo ID.
3. Apply through the National Verifier online, by mail, or with a participating company (or your state's system in Texas or Oregon).
4. Pick a participating company that serves your ZIP code, and decide whether the discount goes on mobile or home internet.
5. Use your service at least once a month if your plan is free.
6. Watch for your yearly recertification notice and answer within 60 days.

Related guides

• 5G government phones
• Emergency help with utility bills
• Utility relief programs
• Medicaid

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information. Lifeline rules, discounts, and income limits are set by the FCC and can change. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with the FCC, USAC, or any phone or internet company.