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Making Connectivity More Afforable For You.
Lifeline is a federal program from the FCC designed to help low-income households stay connected. Eligible customers can receive a monthly discount on qualifying services, including home phone, broadband internet, or bundled voice-and-internet packages from participating providers.
This program helps ensure that families have affordable access to essential online services—such as education, job opportunities, and healthcare—in today’s connected world.
Available only in the state of Kentucky.
Lifeline Discounts
& Eligibility
The Lifeline program offers a monthly discount of up to $9.25 for eligible low-income households and up to $34.25 per month for qualifying subscribers living on Tribal lands. Customers may apply their Lifeline benefit to either a wireline (home phone/internet) or wireless service, but only one Lifeline benefit is allowed per household under FCC rules.
Lifeline can be used toward broadband internet, phone service, or bundled voice-and-internet packages, helping families stay connected to essential online resources.
Key rules include the following:
- Lifeline is available only to subscribers whose eligibility can be verified by checking a program eligibility database or by submitting documentation demonstrating their eligibility.
- Only one Lifeline benefit is permitted per household. Federal rules prohibit subscribers from receiving more than one Lifeline service. If a subscriber or his or her household currently has more than one Lifeline-discounted service, they must de-enroll from other Lifeline services immediately or be subject to penalties.
- Subscribers must recertify their eligibility every year and should respond to any requests from the National Verifier’s or state Lifeline administrator to recertify eligibility. Subscribers who fail to recertify their eligibility will be de-enrolled from the Lifeline program.
- Subscribers receiving free service from their service provider must actually use their service to continue to be enrolled in the Lifeline program.
What is the current benefit under the Lifeline Program?
Eligible subscribers may receive up to $9.25 per month off qualifying broadband or bundled broadband/voice services that meet minimum service standards. Subscribers who qualify only for voice service may receive up to $5.25 per month. The discounta may be applied to either wireline or wireless service, but not both.
How can I determine if I am eligible?
You can check your eligibility by visiting lifelinesupport.org.
How do I apply?
There are several ways to apply for Lifeline: Apply online through the National Verifier portal at lifelinesupport.org. Apply by mail using a paper form (available through the National Verifier after selecting your state). Apply directly with a Lifeline service provider, either in person or online, if they support online enrollment. To locate Lifeline providers in your state, visit https://cnm.universalservice.org. For application questions, contact the Lifeline Support Center: 1-800-234-9473 or LifelineSupport@usac.org (do not send sensitive information via email).
What documentation do I need to provide when I apply for Lifeline service?
Documentation may be required if the National Verifier cannot automatically confirm your eligibility.
- Program-based eligibility documents (dated within the past 12 months) include: a statement of benefits, a notice or award letter, program participation documents, or any official document from a qualifying program.
- Income-based eligibility documents include: the previous year’s state, federal, or Tribal tax return; current employer income statement or paycheck stub; Veterans Administration benefits statement; retirement, pension, unemployment, or workers’ compensation documentation; federal or Tribal General Assistance notice; or a divorce decree, child support award, or other official income document. If documents do not show a full year of income, you must provide three consecutive months of documentation from the past 12 months.
Full documentation details are available at https://www.lifelinesupport.org/documents-needed. If eligibility cannot be verified, enrollment may be denied or de-enrollment may occur.
Can I get more than one discounted service?
No. Federal rules allow only one Lifeline discount per household. Eligible subscribers may receive a discount on wireline voice, wireless voice, broadband, or a broadband/voice bundle. If more than one person in your household receives a Lifeline benefit, you must choose one provider and de-enroll from the other. For assistance, contact 1-800-234-9473 or lifelinesupport@usac.org (do not send sensitive personal information). Violations may result in civil and/or criminal penalties.
How is “household” defined for Lifeline?
A household is defined as individuals who live together at the same address and share income and expenses (an economic unit). Lifeline benefits may also be provided to eligible subscribers in group living facilities. Applicants may be required to complete a one-per-household worksheet to confirm household status. A pre-screening tool is available at lifelinesupport.org/do-i-qualify
How often do I need to verify my eligibility?
Eligibility must be verified at enrollment and once each year you continue receiving Lifeline service. You may lose eligibility if your income increases, you stop participating in a qualifying program, or someone else in your household receives Lifeline. If you become ineligible, you must notify your provider immediately to avoid penalties. For assistance, contact 1-800-234-9473 or lifelinesupport@usac.org.
What if I have free Lifeline?
If your Lifeline service is free, you must use the service at least once every 30 days to keep your benefit and comply with all program rules.
Who can I contact if I have an issue with a mobile phone or other hardware provided by my Lifeline service provider?
The FCC does not subsidize hardware. Any issues with mobile phones or devices provided by a Lifeline provider should be addressed directly with the service provider.
Who do I contact if I have a disability and want help applying for Lifeline?
For application assistance, visit lifelinesupport.org or call 800-234-9473. For questions about service or equipment accessibility, contact the FCC Disability Rights Office: 202-418-2517 (voice), 844-432-2275 (video phone), or DRO@fcc.gov.
The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau maintains a dedicated Lifeline Fraud Tip Line – 1-855-4LL-TIPS (or 1-855-455-8477) – and an email address – Lifelinetips@fcc.gov – to facilitate reporting of possible fraud in the program.
Please provide as much detail as possible, including the name and contact information of the individuals involved and the companies they are using to receive Lifeline-supported phone service.
About Digital Connectivity and Lifeline Awareness Week
The Federal Communications Commission, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), and National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA) have worked together since 2005 to promote outreach on the Lifeline program and, in the last two years, Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The purpose of Digital Connectivity and Lifeline Awareness Week is to provide state, local, and Tribal entities with information and resources to help ensure that low-income consumers are aware of the programs and understand the requirements for participation.
FCC Outreach Fact Sheet: Word | PDF
Digital Connectivity and Lifeline Awareness Consumer Outreach Media Contacts
NARUC: Regina Davis, rdavis@naruc.org
NASUCA: Barrett C. Sheridan, (717) 783-5048, bsheridan@paoca.org
FCC: Mike Snyder, michael.snyder@fcc.gov
Enhanced Lifeline Benefits for Tribal Lands
Because telephone subscribership levels on Tribal lands are the lowest in the country, enhanced Lifeline benefits are available to low-income residents of Tribal lands. You can find out more about which areas are eligible Tribal lands by visiting this site: https://www.lifelinesupport.org/tribal-benefit/.
Link Up, another federal benefit program, is a one-time benefit, per address, that reduces the initial installation or activation fees of certain Lifeline providers offering telephone service on Tribal lands.
What benefits are available through the Lifeline program’s support for Tribal lands?
For low-income consumers living on Tribal lands, Lifeline provides a monthly discount of up to $34.25 off the cost of qualifying services (either wireline or wireless). This discount consists of up to $9.25 for qualifying broadband or bundled services or up to $5.25 for phone service (which is available to all eligible low-income subscribers across the United States) plus up to an additional $25 in enhanced support (which is available only to eligible low-income subscribers living on Tribal lands). Some states offer additional monthly discounts through their own Lifeline programs.
Tribal Lands Link Up provides qualified subscribers living on Tribal lands with a one-time discount of up to $100 on the initial installation or activation of telephone service at their primary residence. For service initiation charges of up to $200, Link Up also provides a deferred, no-interest payment plan to the subscriber for up to one year. Subscribers can request Link Up once for each change of their primary residential (home) address. Tribal Link Up support is only offered to carriers who are building out infrastructure on Tribal lands, so not all carriers may be discounting their activation fee. Consumers can check with their Lifeline provider to see if they offer Link Up.
What limitations are there on Lifeline and Link Up?
Federal rules prohibit qualifying low-income consumers from receiving more than one Lifeline service at the same time. For instance, low-income subscribers who qualify may receive a Lifeline discount on either a home telephone or a wireless telephone service, but they may not receive a Lifeline discount on both services at the same time.
Additionally, only one Lifeline service may be obtained per household. “Household” is defined as any individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address as one economic unit. An “economic unit” is defined as “all adult individuals contributing to and sharing in the income and expenses of a household.”
Lifeline support is available to eligible low-income subscribers living in group living facilities. Lifeline applicants may demonstrate when initially enrolling in the program that any other Lifeline recipients residing at their residential address are part of a separate household. Similarly, federal rules prohibit qualifying low-income consumers from receiving more than one Tribal Link Up discount at a primary residence.
How you can qualify for Lifeline
You may qualify for Lifeline assistance if you fall into one of the following categories:
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), or Food Stamps
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance
- Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit Programs
- You do not participate in one the following programs, and want to qualify through income
- You are not in any of these programs, but your child/children or dependent is in one of these programs
- You must be a resident of the State of Kentucky
- You must give accurate and true information.
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