Internet for Low-Income Families

Lifeline is a federal program that gives qualifying households up to a $9.25 discount on their monthly internet subscription from select providers. Households on Tribal lands can qualify for a $34.95 discount. Similar to the ACP, it was created by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to help qualifying low-income households afford telephone and broadband access. Even though it's less of a discount than the ACP offers and has stricter eligibility requirements, $9.25 saved per month is vital for many households.

There are a few ways you can qualify for Lifeline. The first is to have a household income that’s at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. The income qualifications are:

You can also qualify if you or a dependent is enrolled in specific government assistance programs. These programs include the following:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Medicaid
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
• Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefits

Applying for Lifeline is relatively easy. Visit the Lifeline website, follow the steps to sign up, and determine your eligibility. 

You may need to provide documentation proving your eligibility—this could include forms or paperwork from a qualifying government program, proof of identity, or proof of household income.

Once you've been approved for the benefit, you can contact your ISP and let them know. They can then apply the discount to your bill.

Access from AT&T is a program that provides low-cost internet plans to eligible households. These plans run up to 100 Mbps for up to $30 per month. This discount can be combined with Lifeline, allowing you to get 100Mbps internet for about $20 per month. You can also apply for Access even if you don't qualify for the ACP or if you're using the benefit with another provider.

If you've previously qualified for ACP benefits, you're also eligible for Access from AT&T. You can also apply for and receive Access through similar requirements.

To qualify directly for Access, you need to participate in one of the following programs:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) — California residents only
• National School Lunch Program

You can also qualify if your household income is 200% or less of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, the same as the ACP.

Apply for Access here. You can also call AT&T at 1-800-288-2020 to sign up for Access and have the discount applied.

Internet Essentials from Xfinity is a low-cost internet program for qualifying customers that provides affordable internet, computers, free Wi-Fi hotspots, and even free internet training. There are two plans available:

• Internet Essentials provides 75 Mbps internet for $14.95 per month.*
• Internet Essentials Plus provides 100 Mbps internet for $29.95 per month.*

Both plans can be combined with Lifeline benefits to provide even cheaper internet access to qualifying households.

Eligibility requirements for Internet Essentials are similar to those for other programs:

• Have a household income of 200% or less of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, OR
• Participate in select government assistance programs, including Lifeline, SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, and the National School Lunch Program, OR
• Once participated in the ACP with Xfinity

Simply head to Xfinity's Internet Essentials signup page and shop for a plan. Once you’ve completed the enrollment, you’ll automatically receive your discount starting from the second bill.

Starlink's residential internet plans offer high performance, but aren't the cheapest. However, anyone who needs the bare minimum internet speed, especially in rural areas or while traveling, can get a $5-per-month plan from Starlink. Standby mode provides speeds of 500Kbps (0.5Mbps), which is just barely faster than dial-up internet.

It allows you to stay connected. You can make text, voice, and even video calls. Things like Zoom calls are low quality, but they do work. Browsing the internet is slow, but it is possible. Some low-resolution video is possible, but don’t expect to stream Netflix or Spotify.

The only caveat with Starlink is that you need to obtain the dish, which can be costly. The Starlink Mini dish is $299, and the Standard dish is $349.  

Unlike some other ISPs, Hughesnet doesn’t have a special plan specifically for low-income households. It previously accepted ACP benefits, so you can apply your $30 discount towards a Hughesnet plan.

Unfortunately, Hughesnet customers on the ACP saw their subscriptions rise to the regular monthly price. Hughesnet offers no information on whether or not they accept the Lifeline discount.

Viasat participates in the Connect America Fund Phase 2 (CAF II), which attempts to connect rural areas with broadband internet access. Subsidized by the FCC, Viasat offers a specialized plan in certain areas for a discounted rate. 

The Connection 25 plan is available to eligible customers in rural areas for $63.99 per month for the first two years, after which it becomes $88.99 per month. It provides download speeds of 25Mbps with 660GB of allocated data monthly. Unlike Viasat's standard residential plan, this one requires a 12-month contract. Enter your address in Viasat's lookup tool to see if your home is in a qualifying area for the Connection 25 plan.

Like Hughesnet, Viasat participated in the Affordable Connectivity Program but does not provide a specific low-cost plan. However, it does accept the Lifeline discount, which can be added to the Connection 25 Plan for an additional discount.

If you need a cheap internet plan and don’t qualify for the Lifeline, ACP, or any of the low-income plans featured elsewhere in this article, don’t worry. There are options out there, including widely available satellite and DSL plans.

Unfortunately, few ISPs offer senior-specific discount programs. That said, if you meet any of the eligibility criteria for Lifeline, you can take advantage of those benefits, regardless of your age.

The Lifeline program does have a senior-focused qualifier—if you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you can qualify for the discount and receive a credit toward your internet service.

Project 10Million is an initiative that aims to provide free internet access to students that need it, as well as affordable laptops and tablets. The aim is to ensure that every student has access to the tools they need to succeed.

The program works like this: school districts apply with T-Mobile for the program, and then students eligible for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) can claim their benefit through the school. Districts can also opt to use participation in other assistance programs to qualify students.

If your family needs a computer but can’t afford one, you have options. There are a number of charitable organizations that focus on providing computers to needy individuals and families.

Computers with Causes is a charitable organization that aims to ensure that every family that needs a computer has access to one. It places a special emphasis on students, teachers, and their families but serves a number of other groups. To apply, simply fill out the application form on its website:

https://www.computerswithcauses.org/application/

The organization will request some documentation and conduct research to ensure that your need is genuine. The process can take a couple weeks, so if you know you have a need coming up, try to apply in advance.

PCs for People is an online store that provides low-cost laptops, desktops, and internet networking equipment to individuals and families in need. The organization doesn’t offer free equipment, but instead focuses on providing affordable prices. If you’re interested, you can apply at the link below:

https://www.pcsforpeople.org/eligibility/

PCs for People will request certain documentation before you’re able to shop—namely, photo ID and either proof of income or proof you’re enrolled in a government assistance program. Proof of citizenship is not required with PCs for People.

No, technically, the government isn’t giving free internet. However, the Lifeline program offers up to a $9.25 discount on internet plans for eligible low-income households. Many ISPs work with the FCC to offer plans at a discount.

The Affordable Connectivity Program’s income requirements are 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. The numbers are based on the size of your household and the state that you live in. Here are the income eligibility requirements:

As of February 7, 2024, the FCC is no longer accepting new enrollments due to a lack of funding from Congress. Funding ran out in April 2024. Unless action is taken by Congress, the ACP is over for the foreseeable future.

Lifeline is a permanent program that provides affordable access to communication tools like phone service and broadband internet access. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a newer program that provides additional support for low-income families that can’t afford internet access.

The two benefits are similar, but the good news is you don’t have to choose between them—if you are eligible for Lifeline, you’re eligible for the ACP, and you can receive both benefits at the same time.

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides up to $30 per month towards broadband internet service for eligible households. Eligible families living on Tribal lands can receive up to $75 per month toward their internet service.

No, the ACP benefits won’t affect your taxes. The benefit comes in the form of a discount applied directly to your internet bill.