Plans
Qualifications
Lifeline support lowers the cost of basic, monthly local telephone service. An eligible customer may receive the Lifeline discount on either a wireline or wireless connection, but the discount is available for only one telephone connection per household. Lifeline discounts do not apply to taxes, surcharges, and mileage charges.
Qualifications to receive Lifeline discounts vary by state. The qualifying programs are either determined by each state's Public Utility Commission or the federal Lifeline/Link-Up program. In states and U.S. territories that do not provide state-funded discounts, an individual is eligible if he or she participates in one of the following programs:
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA) or Section 8
- Food Stamps
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Medicaid
- National School Lunch Program's free lunch program
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
In addition, a consumer may be eligible if his or her household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. If you qualify for Lifeline based on the income guidelines, you will be asked to provide current documentation that shows your household income. To qualify for the Lifeline Assistance Program, you must be a resident of one of these states:
- Iowa
- Illinois
- Kansas
- Maine
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
