Low-Income Phone & Internet Discount 2026: Lifeline Program

Lifeline is the FCC’s program that lowers the monthly cost of phone or internet service for low-income households. This guide covers the size of the discount, the 2026 income limits, which programs qualify you automatically, and exactly how to apply.

What Is the Lifeline Program?

Lifeline is a federal benefit run by the FCC and administered by USAC (the Universal Service Administrative Company). It gives qualifying households a monthly discount on phone, internet, or bundled service from participating providers. You keep choosing your own provider and plan — Lifeline just cuts the bill.

The program is aimed at making sure low-income Americans can afford to stay connected for work, school, health care, and emergencies.

Here is how it works in plain terms: you prove that your household qualifies (and re-confirm it once a year), you pick a phone or internet company that participates in Lifeline, and the discount comes off your bill every month. You do not have to switch to a special “government plan” — the discount applies to qualifying service from any participating provider in your area.

How Big Is the Discount?

Per the FCC, Lifeline provides:

Service type	Monthly discount
Phone, internet, or bundled service	Up to $9.25
Voice-only service	Up to $5.25
Service on Tribal lands	Up to $34.25

On Tribal lands, the Link Up benefit adds up to $100 off the one-time cost of starting service (FCC).

One thing to be clear about: the discount applies to your service bill. The FCC does not subsidize phones or other hardware, so treat “free government phone” offers with caution.

Who Qualifies for Lifeline?

There are two doors into Lifeline. You only need one.

Door 1 — Income. Your household income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines. Here is the official 2026 table from USAC’s Lifeline Support site, based on the 2026 poverty guidelines:

Household size	48 states + D.C.	Alaska	Hawaii
1	$21,546	$26,933	$24,786
2	$29,214	$36,518	$33,602
3	$36,882	$46,103	$42,417
4	$44,550	$55,688	$51,233
5	$52,218	$65,273	$60,048
6	$59,886	$74,858	$68,864
7	$67,554	$84,443	$77,679
8	$75,222	$94,028	$86,495

Door 2 — Program participation. You (or someone in your household) are enrolled in any of these, per the FCC and USAC:

• SNAP (food assistance) — see who qualifies for SNAP and how to apply
• Medicaid
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance — including Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers
• Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefits
• Certain Tribal assistance programs

If you already get SNAP or live in Section 8 housing, you qualify — no income math needed. You just have to apply and show proof of enrollment. This is usually the easier path: a benefit award letter is simpler to produce than a stack of pay stubs, and it settles the question in one document.

Note that “household income” means the combined income of everyone in your household, so count all earners before you compare against the table.

There is also special protection for survivors: under the Safe Connections Act, survivors of domestic violence or trafficking can get emergency Lifeline support for up to 6 months, per the FCC.

How to Apply for Lifeline

1. Go to the National Verifier. Apply online at lifelinesupport.org, the official application system run by USAC. You can also apply by mail or through a participating phone or internet company (FCC).
2. Texas and Oregon are different. These two states use their own state application processes instead of the National Verifier (FCC). Your provider can point you to the right state system.
3. Prove your eligibility. The Verifier checks your information automatically where it can. If it cannot confirm you, upload documents — proof of income, or a benefit letter from a qualifying program such as SNAP or Medicaid.
4. Pick a participating provider. Once approved, sign up with (or stay with) a company that offers Lifeline service and ask them to apply your discount.
5. Need help? Call the Lifeline Support Center at 1-800-234-9473 (FCC).

Applying is free. No legitimate Lifeline provider or website will charge you an application fee.

Keeping Your Benefit

Two rules matter most, per the FCC:

• One per household. Each household gets one Lifeline discount total — on phone or internet, not both. Two separate households at the same address may each qualify, and the application walks you through this.
• Recertify every year. You must confirm each year that you still qualify. Watch for mail or messages from USAC and respond by the deadline, or you will lose the discount.

If your income rises above the limit or you leave a qualifying program, you are required to tell your provider — staying enrolled when you no longer qualify violates program rules.

Stack Your Benefits

Lifeline pairs naturally with other programs. If you qualify for Lifeline through the income table, there is a good chance you also qualify for SNAP food benefits (SNAP’s gross income cutoff sits at a similar level) and for LIHEAP help with heating and cooling bills. And it works in the other direction, too: getting approved for SNAP or Section 8 is itself your proof of eligibility for Lifeline.

Income figures are the official USAC amounts based on the 2026 federal poverty guidelines; separate columns apply to Alaska and Hawaii.