OpenFinancial

A working phone is no longer a luxury — it's how you apply for jobs, schedule medical appointments, stay in contact with your child's school, and call 911 in an emergency. But for millions of low-income Americans, the monthly cost of phone or internet service is a real financial burden. The Lifeline program was created to help.

Lifeline is a federal program administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that provides a monthly discount on phone or internet service for eligible low-income households. It's been around since 1985, though most people know it through the "free government phone" programs that Lifeline-participating carriers offer. Here's how the program works and how to apply.

What Lifeline Provides

Lifeline offers a discount of up to $9.25 per month on either phone service (landline or wireless) or broadband internet service. Households on qualifying Tribal lands can receive an enhanced benefit of up to $34.25 per month. The discount is applied to a plan offered by a participating carrier — you choose the carrier and plan.

Many Lifeline carriers offer plans where the $9.25 discount covers the entire cost of service, which is why the program is often marketed as "free phone service." Some carriers also provide a free smartphone as part of their Lifeline offering. The exact plan details — minutes, texts, data — vary by carrier and state.

You can use your Lifeline benefit for either phone service or internet service, but not both. Only one Lifeline benefit is allowed per household.

Who Qualifies

You may qualify for Lifeline in one of two ways: through income or through participation in a qualifying federal assistance program.

Income-based eligibility requires your household income to be at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. For 2026, that means a single person earning approximately $21,546 or a family of four earning about $44,460 per year.

Program-based eligibility applies if you or someone in your household participates in any of the following: SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance, Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit, or certain Tribal assistance programs. If you're already enrolled in one of these programs, you've already demonstrated financial need — Lifeline simply requires proof of enrollment.

How to Apply

The application process has two parts: proving your eligibility and selecting a carrier.

Verify your eligibility through the National Verifier. Visit checklifeline.org or call 1-800-234-9473 to start the process. You'll need to provide your name, date of birth, address, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. You'll also need to upload or submit documentation proving your eligibility — such as a benefit enrollment letter, tax return, or income statement.

Choose a Lifeline provider. Once approved, select a carrier in your area that participates in the Lifeline program. You can find participating providers at lifelinesupport.org. Available carriers vary by state and may include both national and regional companies.

Some carriers will handle the entire application process for you — you can apply directly through them, and they'll submit the eligibility verification on your behalf. This can simplify things if you're not comfortable with the online process.

Keeping Your Benefit Active

Lifeline benefits aren't automatic once approved — you must recertify your eligibility every year. The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), which administers the program, will contact you annually to confirm you still qualify. If you don't respond to the recertification notice, your benefit will be discontinued.

You must also use your Lifeline service at least once every 30 days. If your service goes completely unused for 30 consecutive days, your carrier may de-enroll you from the program. Making a call, sending a text, or using data all count as usage.

If you switch carriers, your Lifeline benefit transfers with you — but you need to notify your current carrier and re-enroll with the new one. You cannot receive Lifeline discounts from two carriers simultaneously.

Common Misconceptions

Lifeline is sometimes called the "Obama phone" program, which leads many people to believe it was created during the Obama administration. In fact, the program was established in 1985 under the Reagan administration to subsidize landline service. It was expanded to include wireless service in 2005 under the George W. Bush administration and updated to include broadband in 2016. It's a long-standing, bipartisan program.

Another common misconception is that the program is funded by taxpayers. Lifeline is funded through the Universal Service Fund, which is supported by contributions from telecommunications carriers — not by direct government appropriations from tax revenue.

Sources

Federal Communications Commission. "Lifeline Program for Low-Income Consumers." fcc.gov
Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). "Lifeline Support." lifelinesupport.org