Lifeline Qualifications
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), on February 6, 2012, released its Lifeline
Reform Order (FCC 12-11), making significant changes to the program. The order established
a uniform floor of eligibility requirements, while allowing individial states to
establish more permissive eligibility criteria.
If you are currently enrolled in one or more of the baseline programs listed below, you
qualify for Lifeline benefits. However, your state may have assistance programs not listed below that
could also qualify you.
To receive lifeline benefits based on program eligility, you will be required to provide
proof of
participation in that program.
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly Food Stamps
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Medicaid
- National School Lunch Program's Free Lunch Program
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
Additionally, you may be eligible if your household* income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (see table below). To qualify based on income, you will be required to provide current documentation that shows your household* income.
2012 Federal Poverty Guidelines - 135%
| # in Household | Contiguous 48 / DC |
Hawaii | Alaska |
| 1 | $15,080 | $17,361 | $18,860 |
| 2 | $20,426 | $23,504 | $25,542 |
| 3 | $25,772 | $29,646 | $32,225 |
| 4 | $31,118 | $35,789 | $38,907 |
| 5 | $36,464 | $41,931 | $45,590 |
| 6 | $41,810 | $48,074 | $52,272 |
| 7 | $47,156 | $54,216 | $58,955 |
| 8 | $52,502 | $60,359 | $65,637 |
| Each Add't Person | $5,346 | $6,143 | $6,683 |
Source: Federal Register, Vol. 77, No 13, Jan 26, 2012, P 4034-4035
*Household is defined as "any individual or group of individuals who are living together
at the same address as one economic unit".
Economic unit is defined as "all adult individuals contributing to and sharing in the
income and expenses of a household".
Things you should know about Lifeline
- Lifeline is a Federal Benefit
- Lifeline service is available for only ONE line per household*, wireless or wire line.
- A household* can not receive Lifeline benefits from more than one provider.
- Violation of the one-per-household limitation constitutes a violation of the commission's rules and will result in the subscriber's de-enrollment from the program and potentially prosecution by the United States Government.
- Providing false or fraudulent information to receive Lifeline benefits is punishable by law.
Visit the USAC website for more details about the Lifeline program.
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