The Lifeline Program helps provide low-income consumers with affordable phone and internet service. It can lower the cost of your monthly phone or internet bill by up to $9.25.
The program is part of the Universal Service Fund (USF). It connects eligible customers in every state, commonwealth, territory and Tribal land to wired or wireless telephone services.
Requirements
Lifeline is a program that provides low-income people with discount phone service. It is part of the Universal Service Fund and is available in every state, territory, commonwealth, and Tribal land.
The Lifeline program has been around since 1985. It ensures low-income Americans can access phone and internet services and connect to jobs, family, and emergency services.
To apply for Lifeline, you must use the National Verifier system to verify your eligibility and recertify annually.
You can also get assistance from an organization that helps people apply for Lifeline. You may receive a monthly phone or Internet service discount if you qualify for a program like the Michigan lifeline program.
Your Lifeline discount can be applied to a home, wireless, or bundled service. You can also transfer your value from one company to another anytime.
Your household must have an income below the federal poverty level to be eligible for Lifeline. It means that all members of your home must earn a minimum of $21,825 per year.
If you are not qualified for the Lifeline program, you can check with a local service provider or check the website for your state. After you know your eligibility, you can apply for the program by submitting a form online or downloading a document.
Application Process
To enroll in the Lifeline program, you must provide personal identifying information (such as your social security number and driver’s license) and proof of income. It can be your previous year’s tax return or other documents supporting your low-income assistance claim.
Lifeline subscribers receive discounts on the monthly telephone or broadband service purchased from participating providers. This discount may be applied to voice services, a voice bundle, broadband services or bundled broadband packages (either fixed or mobile).
Eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) must obtain consent from every new and existing subscriber before transmitting any information concerning the subscriber’s eligibility for Lifeline service to the National Lifeline Accountability Database (Database). This consent can be obtained from a written or electronic notification sent to the subscriber’s address.
The Database is an online system that allows the Commission to detect and eliminate duplicate Lifeline services. It is the primary source of information about eligible low-income consumers who receive Lifeline.
State certification of Lifeline eligibility is optional if the state has an effective system for preventing duplicative federal Lifeline support. This system must be as robust as the one adopted by the Commission and incorporate information from all eligible telecommunications carriers receiving low-income support in the state and their subscribers.
Verification
The Lifeline Program is designed to subsidize telephone service and broadband for low-income households. To ensure that Lifeline is used as intended, it must be fully verified by the federal and state and tribal governments before consumers can receive benefits.
The verification process for Lifeline is based on several criteria. Among them is that an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) must verify the program-based eligibility of prospective subscribers by accessing eligibility databases and reviewing documentation demonstrating their current or prior year’s eligibility under the program-based requirements.
ETCs must also verify the income-based eligibility of their prospective subscribers and obtain a signed certification from each subscriber confirming that they qualify for Lifeline under these criteria. If the National Verifier, a state Lifeline administrator or a state agency cannot determine the subscriber’s eligibility by accessing one or more eligibility databases, the National Verifier, state Lifeline administrator or state agency must obtain a certified copy of the subscriber’s current income statement.
The National Verifier will then use this information to determine a prospective subscriber’s eligibility. Once a determination is made, the National Verifier will notify the subscriber that their eligibility has been verified and provide them with an access code to log in to the National Verifier online portal. If subscribers cannot use the login code, they should contact their telephone or Internet service provider for assistance.
Recertification
Lifeline is a federally-funded discount program for low-income subscribers that provides a monthly discount on a home phone, wireless or broadband internet service. This program can help you pay for your phone and internet bills and is available to people who earn 135% or less of the federal poverty guidelines.
To receive a Lifeline discount, you must apply and be approved by the Lifeline National Verifier. The National Verifier is an independent third-party organization that reviews and approves Lifeline applications. You must submit proof of your income and participation in an eligible program. You may also have to verify your identity based on your full name, date of birth and last four digits of your Social Security Number.
After you have been approved for Lifeline service, you will be required to recertify your eligibility each year. It is a three-step process verifying that you are eligible for Lifeline service and that your address has stayed the same.
You must also recertify your eligibility if you change jobs or have moved. The National Verifier and the state Lifeline administrator must obtain an updated certification from you confirming that you are still eligible for Lifeline service.
You must use the Wireline Competition Bureau-approved universal Annual Recertification Form to recertify your Lifeline service. In addition to this form, you must submit an approved Annual Recertification Form from the National Verifier and documentation meeting the requirements of paragraph (b)(1)(i)(B) or (c)(1)(i)(B) for each of your subscribers.
About Author
