Lifeline is a federal program that lowers the cost of phone or internet service for low-income households. Run by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), Lifeline provides a monthly discount — up to $9.25 a month for most households, and up to $34.25 a month on qualifying Tribal lands — applied to one phone line or one internet connection per household.
Lifeline has existed since 1985 and remains active today. (It is separate from the temporary Affordable Connectivity Program, which provided a larger internet discount but stopped funding new benefits in 2024. Lifeline is the standing, permanent benefit.) For someone on a tight fixed income, $9.25 a month is more than $100 a year — and combined with the right carrier, it can make a basic cell plan essentially free.
What Lifeline Covers
Lifeline applies to one service per household — you choose:
- Wireless (cell phone) service — the most popular choice. Many carriers build a plan around the subsidy so that, after the discount, you pay little or nothing for a set amount of talk, text, and data each month
- Home internet (broadband) — the discount can be applied to qualifying internet service instead of a phone
- Home phone (landline) — still available where offered
- Bundled voice + data — some carriers apply the discount to a combined plan
You get the discount on one of these, not all of them, and only one Lifeline benefit per household (not per person). A “household” is a group of people who live together and share income and expenses.
Who Qualifies
You qualify for Lifeline one of two ways:
- By income — your household income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines. For 2025 that’s roughly $21,100 for one person or $43,500 for a family of four (limits are higher in Alaska and Hawaii)
- By program participation — you (or someone in your household) participate in a qualifying federal program: Medicaid, SNAP (food stamps), SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Veterans Pension or Survivors Pension, or certain Tribal programs. If you already get one of these, you almost certainly qualify for Lifeline
Because Medicaid, SNAP, and SSI participation are automatic qualifiers, many people who receive other benefits covered elsewhere on this site are already eligible — they just haven’t claimed the phone discount.
How to Apply
Applying is a two-step process: prove you’re eligible, then pick a carrier.
- Step 1 — verify eligibility at the National Verifier: lifelinesupport.org (or by mail). You’ll provide proof of income or proof of program participation. Most applicants get an answer quickly online
- Step 2 — choose a Lifeline provider in your state and tell them you’ve been approved. The provider applies the discount to your bill. The same site has a “Companies Near Me” tool to find participating carriers
If you’re applying through a Tribal program or live on Tribal lands, ask specifically about the enhanced Tribal benefit (up to $34.25/month) and the separate Tribal Link Up discount on initial service setup.
Keeping Your Benefit
Two rules keep people enrolled:
- Recertify every year — you must confirm your continued eligibility annually. USAC sends a notice; if you ignore it, you lose the benefit. Respond promptly
- Use the service — if your Lifeline phone is free and you go 30 days without using it (a call, text, or data session), the carrier may de-enroll you. A quick monthly call or text keeps it active
Avoiding Lifeline Scams
Because Lifeline involves “free phones,” scammers exploit it. Legitimate Lifeline enrollment never requires you to pay a fee to apply, never asks for your bank PIN, and is verified through the official National Verifier. Be wary of door-to-door or social-media offers that ask for money or rush you. When in doubt, start at lifelinesupport.org rather than responding to an unsolicited offer. For more on this pattern, see Internet Affordability and the site’s scams and fraud guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get both a phone and internet discount? Not on Lifeline alone — it’s one benefit per household. But you may be able to combine Lifeline with other low-cost-internet offers many providers run for benefit recipients.
Do I get a free phone? Lifeline itself is a service discount, not a free device. However, many wireless carriers that serve Lifeline customers include a basic phone as part of signing up. Ask the carrier.
What happened to the $30 ACP discount? The Affordable Connectivity Program was a larger, separate internet benefit that stopped enrolling and funding new benefits in 2024 when its money ran out. Lifeline was never part of ACP and continues normally.
Can more than one person in my home have Lifeline? No — one benefit per household, where a household shares money and expenses. Roommates who are financially independent may each qualify with a one-per-household worksheet.
Educational only. Lifeline discount amounts, income limits, and participating carriers vary by state and change over time. Confirm current details at lifelinesupport.org or call 1-800-234-9473.