What is Lifeline / ACP?

What is Lifeline?

Lifeline is the Federal Communications Commission's program, established in 1985, intended to make communications services more affordable for low-income consumers. Lifeline provides subscribers a discount on monthly telephone service purchased from participating providers in the marketplace.

What is the Affordable Connectivity Program?

The Affordable Connectivity Program is a Federal Communications Commission program that is designed to help families & households who were negatively impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This new benefit will connect eligible households to more job opportunities, healthcare services, virtual classrooms & much more!

When was the Lifeline program created?

The Lifeline program was started in 1985 but took its present form in 1997 under the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

When was the Affordable Connectivity Program launched?

The Affordable Connectivity Program was launched on January 1, 2022 with 14 billion in funding from the federal government.

Who is eligible for the Lifeline program?

Based on Your Income:

You can get Lifeline if your income is 135% or less than the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Click here to see the 2021 Federal Poverty Guidelines table

Based on If You Use Federal Assistance Programs:

You can get Lifeline if you (or someone in your household) participate in one of these programs:

1) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps

2) Medicaid/Medical

3) Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

4) Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)

5) Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit

You will have to show proof of participation, like a benefit letter or official document, when you apply for Lifeline.

Tribal Assistance Programs:

You can get Lifeline if your household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or if you (or someone in your household) participate in:

1) Any of the federal assistance programs listed above

2) Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance

3) Head Start (only households meeting the income qualifying standard)

4) Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF)

5) Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

You will have to show proof of participation, like a benefit letter or official document, when you apply for Lifeline.

Who is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program?

A household is eligible if a member of the household meets one of the criteria below:

1) Has an income that is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, or Lifeline;

2) Approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision, in the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, or 2021-2022 school year;

3) Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;

4) Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider's existing low-income or COVID-19 program.

Eligibility

Consumers qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program through participation in Lifeline or a Lifeline-qualifying program, by meeting certain income requirements program,

Only one ACP Program benefit and one device discount is allowed per household.

Consumers who are eligible for both the Affordable Connectivity Program and the Lifeline program can apply for and participate in both programs, up to the full cost of their monthly broadband service. Service providers should apply the Lifeline discount first, and then apply the ACP Program benefit.

You will need to be enrolled in & have one of the following documents to qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program:

CalFresh, Food Stamps
Medicaid/Medi-Cal
Unemployment/EDD
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Pell Grant Recipients in the Current Year
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Federal Public Housing Assistance or Section 8
Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC)
National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
Income Eligibility - See Guide

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