Federal Lifeline Program

Who is eligible for the Federal Lifeline program?

The following are the current eligibility criteria for the Federal Lifeline program. To qualify for Lifeline, your household income must be at or below the 135% guidelines listed in the chart, or you must participate in one of the following assistance programs:

• Medicaid
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance
• Tribal Eligibility Programs (and living on federally-recognized Tribal lands), or
• Veterans Pension or Survivors Pension Program

Additional eligibility:

Survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and related crimes may qualify for up to six months of emergency Lifeline support. After six months a survivor would have to apply for the standard Lifeline benefit. To qualify for the survivor benefit, your household income must be at or below the 200% poverty guidelines listed in the chart below, or you must participate in one of the previously listed assistance programs or one of the following assistance programs:

• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
• Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch or Breakfast program, including enrollment at a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school or school district
• Received a Federal Pell Grant in the current award year

Survivors will need to provide a document from their service provider showing proof of an attempted line separation request. Survivors cannot successfully complete their application for emergency Lifeline support without this document.