Lifeline Program 2026: Free or Discounted Phone and Internet
Staying connected isn't optional anymore — you need a phone and internet to apply for jobs, see a doctor, reach your kids' school, and manage benefits. Lifeline is the long-running federal program that makes that connection affordable for low-income households. It's the primary federal connectivity benefit still operating, and millions of eligible households aren't enrolled.
What Lifeline Provides
Lifeline gives eligible households a monthly discount on phone or internet service — you pick one. The federal discount is up to $9.25 a month (up to $34.25 for households on qualifying Tribal lands). Many participating providers apply that discount to a plan in a way that makes basic service free or very low cost, and some offer a free smartphone. It's one benefit per household, not per person.
A Quick Note on the ACP
You may have heard about the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which offered a larger monthly internet discount. That program ended in 2024 when its funding ran out. It is no longer available. Lifeline is the active, ongoing federal connectivity benefit, and it continued after the ACP wound down — so if you were on the ACP, Lifeline is where to look now.
Who Qualifies
You qualify for Lifeline in one of two ways. First, by income: if your household income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines. Second — and this is the easy path — by participation in another program. If you receive SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or Veterans Pension or Survivors benefits, you automatically qualify. On Tribal lands, additional programs also qualify you.
How to Sign Up
Apply through the National Verifier at lifelinesupport.org (the Universal Service Administrative Company runs it) — you can apply online, by mail, or through a participating phone or internet company. You'll show proof of eligibility, such as an award letter for SNAP or Medicaid, or income documentation. Once you're approved, you choose a participating provider and apply the benefit to a plan. You must recertify your eligibility once a year to keep it.
Choosing a Provider
Lifeline providers vary a lot by state — some are big national carriers, many are smaller wireless companies that specialize in Lifeline plans. Compare what each offers for the discount: minutes, texts, data, and whether a device is included. The USAC companies-near-me tool lists providers in your area. Because it's one benefit per household, pick the plan that best fits how you actually use your phone and internet.
Bottom Line
If you receive SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or certain other benefits, you automatically qualify for Lifeline — no income paperwork needed. The ACP is gone, but Lifeline remains, and it can make your phone or internet free or nearly free. Apply through the official National Verifier at lifelinesupport.org, pick a participating provider, and remember to recertify each year.