- Proof of a benefit like SNAP, Medicaid or SSI, or your household income
- About 15 minutes to apply
Official links
Who qualifies
Lifeline: households on SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Veterans Pension or some Tribal programs, or with income at or below 135% of the poverty guidelines. Provider plans have their own rules (often SNAP, school lunch or income up to 200%).
What you get
Lifeline takes up to $9.25 a month off one phone or internet bill per household ($34.25 on Tribal lands). Provider plans are cheaper home internet.
After the free part
You pay the plan's monthly price. Lifeline must be renewed (recertified) every year, or the discount stops.
Know what ended
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) ended in 2024. Anyone offering you ACP today is out of date or running a scam. The programs below are still running.
Lifeline (federal)
Lifeline gives up to $9.25 a month off phone or internet service (up to $34.25 on Tribal lands), one per household. You may qualify with income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or with SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, Veterans Pension benefits or certain Tribal programs. Apply at lifelinesupport.org (National Verifier). You must recertify every year.
Internet providers' low-income plans
- Xfinity Internet Essentials: from $14.95 a month for qualifying households (for example, SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, housing assistance, school lunch, or income at or below 200% of the poverty level). Apply at internetessentials.com.
- Spectrum Internet Assist: for households getting school lunch (NSLP or CEP) or SSI. Spectrum lists $25 a month, or $15 for some households.
- Access from AT&T: for households on programs like SNAP or Medicaid, or with income below 200% of the poverty guideline. Price depends on your address; check at att.com/access.
Prices and rules can change, so confirm on the provider's own page before you sign up.
Apply the safe way
⚠️ Careful: Apply only at the official sites above or by calling the number on them. Lifeline and these plans don't need you to pay anyone to apply. Be wary of people at tables or door-to-door offering a free phone if you hand over your benefits card or Social Security number on the spot. Real free programs never ask for your card or bank details to give you something free, never pressure you with a countdown, and never come from a random text, pop-up or caller. Go to the official website yourself instead of tapping a link.
Compare at a glance
| Program | Price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Lifeline (federal) | Up to $9.25 a month off | One per household; renew yearly |
| Xfinity Internet Essentials | $14.95 a month, 75 Mbps | Internet Essentials Plus: $29.95, 100 Mbps |
| Spectrum Internet Assist | $25 a month, or $15 for some | For school lunch or SSI households |
| Access from AT&T | Depends on your address | Check your address on AT&T's page |
The real addresses are lifelinesupport.org, fcc.gov. Type it yourself or use the buttons above. Fake sites use names like acp-renewal-now.com, free-gov-phone.net (examples only, do not visit). A real free program never asks for your card or bank details to “unlock” it.
Anything offering the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) today is out of date or a scam; it ended in 2024.
Why we trust this: Lifeline amounts and rules come from the FCC's own Lifeline page (updated March 2026); plan prices from each provider's official page, October 2026.
Related game: Scam or Legit?. Related explainer: Wi-Fi vs. internet: what's the difference? .