Utilities and phone
Lifeline phone and internet discount
Lifeline takes up to $9.25 a month off your phone or internet bill, or up to $34.25 on qualifying Tribal lands. You may qualify with a low income, or if you get SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance or a Veterans Pension. One discount is allowed per household.
How to apply
- By phone
- 1-800-234-9473
- In person
- A phone or internet company that offers Lifeline can help you apply.
- By mail
- Print the application from LifelineSupport.org and mail it to Lifeline Support Center, PO Box 1000, Horseheads, NY 14845.
- Who runs it
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply.
Apply on the official siteWho may qualify
| Income limit | At or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines |
|---|---|
| Or if you get | SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or the Veterans and Survivors Pension |
| Yearly household income limit, one person (2026, 48 states and DC) | $21,546 a year |
| Yearly household income limit, two people (2026, 48 states and DC) | $29,214 a year |
| Limit per home | One Lifeline discount per household: everyone at the same address who shares income and expenses |
Source: Universal Service Administrative Company (Lifeline administrator for the FCC) (source 2)
What you may get
| Monthly discount | Up to $9.25 a month |
|---|---|
| Monthly discount on qualifying Tribal lands | Up to $34.25 a month |
| What it can go toward | Home or mobile phone service, or high-speed internet |
Source: Universal Service Administrative Company (Lifeline administrator for the FCC) (source 1)
Dates, renewals and waiting lists
| Renewal | Every year. If the automatic check can't confirm you still qualify, you have 60 days to recertify or you lose the discount. |
|---|
Source: Universal Service Administrative Company (Lifeline administrator for the FCC) (source 3)
Good to know
- If you live in Oregon or Texas, you apply through your state's own Lifeline website.
- After you're approved, you choose a phone or internet company that offers Lifeline and sign up with them.
- The Lifeline Support Center can check your application, explain which documents you need and help you renew. It's open 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern.
- Lifeline is run for the FCC by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), a not-for-profit the FCC designated.
Sources: LifelineSupport.org (Universal Service Administrative Company) (source 6), Universal Service Administrative Company (Lifeline administrator for the FCC) (source 4)
What to have ready
What to have ready
- Proof of who you are, such as a driver's license, U.S. passport or other government or Tribal ID that isn't expired
- Proof of your Social Security number, such as your Social Security card or a Social Security Benefit Statement (SSA-1099)
- Proof of your address, such as a utility bill (not from your internet company) or a mortgage or lease statement
- If you qualify through a program like SNAP or Medicaid: a benefit award letter, statement of benefits or benefit verification letter
- If you qualify by income: last year's tax return, a Social Security statement of benefits, or pay stubs for three months in a row
What people get wrong
MythI have to be on SNAP or Medicaid to get Lifeline.
Not true. You may also qualify on income alone, if your household income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines.
MythLifeline is only for a home phone.
Not true. The discount can go toward home or mobile phone service, or high-speed internet.
Sources
- Universal Service Administrative Company (Lifeline administrator for the FCC), Lifeline (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Universal Service Administrative Company (Lifeline administrator for the FCC), Lifeline consumer eligibility (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Universal Service Administrative Company (Lifeline administrator for the FCC), Lifeline recertification (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Universal Service Administrative Company (Lifeline administrator for the FCC), Lifeline: contact us (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Universal Service Administrative Company (Lifeline administrator for the FCC), About USAC (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- LifelineSupport.org (Universal Service Administrative Company), How to apply for Lifeline (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- LifelineSupport.org (Universal Service Administrative Company), Lifeline supporting documents (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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