Lifeline
Lifeline is a federal subsidy that provides $9.25 per month to low-income households for home internet or cellphone plans. Its eligibility requirements are a little stricter than those of the ACP. Your income must be 135% or less than the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or $40,500 for a family of four.
Lifeline income requirements
Household size | 48 contiguous states, DC and territories | Alaska | Hawaii |
---|---|---|---|
1 | $19,683 | $24,584 | $22,640 |
2 | $26,622 | $33,264 | $30,618 |
3 | $33,561 | $41,945 | $38,597 |
4 | $40,500 | $50,625 | $46,575 |
5 | $47,439 | $59,306 | $54,554 |
6 | $54,378 | $67,986 | $62,532 |
7 | $61,317 | $76,667 | $70,511 |
8 | $68,256 | $85,347 | $78,489 |
For each additional person, add: | $6,939 | $8,681 |
You can also get Lifeline if you (or someone who lives with you) participates in any of the following programs:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as Food Stamps)
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Security Income, or SSI
- Federal Public Housing Assistance, or FPHA
- Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
If you live in California, Oregon or Texas, you must check with your internet provider or visit your state’s website to apply for the program.
ConnectHomeUSA
ConnectHomeUSA began in 2015 as a public-private partnership between the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and other organizations. It’s goal is to narrow the digital divide for families with school-age children in HUD-assisted housing.
The program is currently operating in more than 80 communities in the US, with new communities added every year. Residents of ConnectHomeUSA communities can find resources to help find affordable internet services and devices. And if you don’t live in one of those areas, there are resources for people interested in starting a digital inclusion program in their own community.
State and local resources
Some states and cities across the country offer their own local versions of the ACP to help low-income households pay for internet. California, for example, has a website that allows you to search affordable options in your ZIP code based on various eligibility criteria, and Oregon provides an enhanced Lifeline benefit of $19.25 monthly.
Cities like Chicago offer free internet to families in Chicago public schools and eligible city colleges through its Chicago Connected program. The best way for you to find these resources is by going to Google and searching for “[location] internet resources.”
You can also check to see how your state is using the $2.75 billion allocated in the Digital Equity Act to help close the digital divide.
Nonprofit organizations
There are a number of nonprofits around the country with the goal of closing the digital divide. Some help with monthly internet costs, while others provide devices that connect you to the internet. These organizations all received nonprofit status from the IRS and were vetted by watchdogs like Charity Navigator and Guidestar.org:
- Connect All: Part of the InterConnection nonprofit, Connect All provides refurbished computers to low-income users. Eligibility requirements are similar to those of the ACP: Participation in federal programs like SNAP or SSI will automatically qualify you for devices.
- EveryoneOn: EveryoneOn is one of the most wide-ranging internet nonprofits out there. You can use its locator tool to find low-cost plans and computers in your area, enroll in digital skills coursesand find local events that distribute devices.
- Human-I-T: This nonprofit accepts donations from corporations, refurbishes the devices and sells them at a discount to veterans, low-income households, seniors and other groups that qualify. It also offers low-cost internet through its mobile hotspot devices for less than $30 per month.
- Internet for All Now: This is an initiative of the nonprofit California Emerging Technology Fund that helps Californians find low-cost plans in their area. People in California can call and speak with a trained expert, but the website has resources that anyone in the country can use.
- National Digital Inclusion Alliance: The NDIA is a well-known hub for research and policy aiming to close the digital divide, and while it doesn’t offer low-cost internet itself, it’s a helpful resource for navigating what’s out there. You can also use this map of NDIA affiliates providing broadband adoption servicesto see what’s available in your area.