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Guide to the Lifeline Assistance Program
Date Updated: July 24, 2024
Reviewed by:
Marc Levesque is a Resource Coordinator who provides in-home assessments, connections to services and assists with long-range planning. Marc is committed to helping seniors and their families throughout the aging process. Marc is a team member at Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging and a trusted resource for families, many of whom he has worked with for nearly a decade.
Although millions of seniors live active, fulfilling lives, aging does increase the risk of serious health problems. If you live alone, you also have an increased risk of isolation, which could contribute to depression and other mental health conditions. The Pew Research Center reports that 27% of Americans aged 60 and older live by themselves, making this a common concern for older adults.
If you have trouble keeping your balance, you may also worry about the risk of falls, one of the most common problems faced by seniors in the United States. In a typical year, approximately 25% of adults aged 65 and older experience falls, leading to three million visits to the emergency room and 800,000 hospital admissions. Falls are serious because they account for more than 95% of hip fractures and can also cause traumatic brain injuries.
You may not be able to avoid these risks completely, but you can reduce them by staying in touch with loved ones and getting regular medical care as needed. Reliable telephone service makes it much easier to contact family members, friends, members of the clergy and other people who can help you stay connected to what’s going on in your community. It also lets you get help in the event of an emergency or stay in contact with doctors, home health aides and other people who can help you maintain your health and stay as active as possible.
The Lifeline program offers a monthly discount on phone and internet service to help low-income Americans take advantage of the many benefits of having a reliable way to connect with others. This guide provides an overview of Lifeline, including eligibility rules and participation requirements, along with information about the telecommunications companies that participate in the program.
Lifeline Program Overview
The Lifeline program offers free or discounted mobile phone service to low-income Americans. Administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), Lifeline aims to increase access to the services consumers need to contact emergency services, stay in touch with family members and connect with employers. Free or discounted mobile phone service also makes it easier to keep track of emergency contacts and visit mobile websites with information on employment opportunities, public benefits programs and other important topics.
Not all consumers have a mobile phone, so Lifeline also offers a discount on landline service. Lifeline’s discount is only available on one of the two services. If a consumer has a discount on a mobile phone, they may not receive a Lifeline discount for their landline. Participants must also meet certain verification requirements before receiving a discount. As of 2022, the discount is $9.25 per month for eligible subscribers. If you live on tribal lands, you may receive a discount of up to $34.25 per month. Consumers can verify their eligibility on the Lifeline National Verifier website.
Free Alternatives to Lifeline
For consumers who don’t qualify for Lifeline, FreedomPop has a “freemium” plan that allows users to send messages over Wi-Fi. The free plan only includes 10 text messages and 25 megabytes of high-speed data per month, but it can help users keep in touch with family members. Although the service is free, there’s a one-time cost of $10 for the SIM starter kit.
Access Wireless participates in the Affordable Connectivity Program, giving eligible consumers access to 1,000 voice minutes and unlimited text messages and data each month. Access Wireless also offers the ACP+ Enhanced Tribal plan, which comes with unlimited voice minutes and data. If you need high-speed data, you’ll get 10 gigabytes per month with the ACP plan and 25 gigabytes per month with the ACP+ Enhanced Tribal Plan. Access Wireless plans include call waiting, voicemail, caller ID and free long-distance telephone calls within the United States.
Low-Cost Lifeline Alternatives
Although it’s difficult to find free phone service, several carriers offer inexpensive plans, making it easier to stay connected. Many of these plans include high-speed data, so you can even use your mobile phone to apply for jobs, search for local businesses and communicate with healthcare professionals. If these services aren’t available in your area, you may be able to reduce your phone bill by paying for service annually instead of monthly. Pay-as-you go phones are also an option, as they allow you to purchase minutes only when you need them instead of committing to another monthly expense.
|
Provider |
Monthly Cost* |
Plan Features |
Website |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mint Mobile |
$15 |
Mint Mobile offers unlimited calls and text messages, along with 4 gigabytes of high-speed data per month. | |
|
Tello |
$10 |
Tello's economy plan includes 1 gigabyte of high-speed data, unlimited calls and unlimited text messages. The first month of service is available at 50% off for new customers. | |
|
Boost Mobile |
$8.33 |
Boost Mobile offers unlimited talk and texts, along with 1 gigabyte of high-speed data, for $8.33 per month if you pay for 12 months of service in full. If you can't pay $100 upfront, Boost has a plan with unlimited talk/texts and 2 gigabytes of high-speed data for $15 per month. | |
|
RedPocket |
$10 |
Red Pocket's low-cost plan includes 500 megabytes of high-speed data, 500 voice minutes and 500 text messages. |
Lifeline Program Eligibility and Participation Requirements
If you’re interested in Lifeline, you must meet certain eligibility and participation requirements to qualify for the initial discount and remain in the program. These requirements are summarized in the table below.
|
Income |
To qualify based on income, your annual earnings must be no more than 135% of the FPL (In 2022, the FPL for a one-person household is $13,590, making the Lifeline income limit $18,346.50 per year for an individual. The FPL for a two-person household is $18,310; if your household includes another person, you'd need to have no more than $24,718.50 per year in income to qualify. These limits are slightly higher for residents of Alaska and Hawaii.) |
|
Public Benefits |
In some cases, participation in federal assistance programs results in automatic Lifeline qualification. You may qualify if you participate in SNAP, SSI, Medicaid, federal public housing assistance or the Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit. Certain tribal programs also qualify. |
|
Annual Certification |
You must recertify every year. If you don't respond to the recertification notice, Lifeline will end your discount. |
|
Minimum Participation |
To keep your discount active, you must use the service at least once every 30 days. |
|
Honesty |
You must answer questions truthfully when filling out Lifeline forms. |
|
Information Updates |
If you move or have a change in circumstances that would make you ineligible for Lifeline, you need to contact your service provider to update the information on file. |
Providers of Free Phones for Seniors
Many companies participate in the Lifeline program, expanding access to landline and mobile phone service for consumers around the country. Assurance Wireless and Access Wireless are among the most popular options. With Assurance Wireless, subscribers receive a free mobile phone, 250 free texts per month and 250 voice minutes per month. The free phones have nationwide coverage, caller ID, call waiting and voicemail. You may even be able to keep your current landline or mobile telephone number.
In addition to the ACP and ACP+ programs mentioned above, Access Wireless participates in the Lifeline program. If you qualify for Lifeline only, you’ll get 1,000 voice minutes, unlimited text messages and 4.5 gigabytes of data per month. If you qualify for both the ACP and Lifeline programs, you’ll get unlimited voice minutes, text messages and data.
The table below lists the companies participating in Lifeline and indicates where coverage is available.
|
Carrier Name |
States Served |
Website |
|---|---|---|
|
Access Wireless |
Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia | |
|
American Assistance |
Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin | |
|
Arctic Slope Telephone Association Cooperative |
Alaska | |
|
Assist Wireless |
Arkansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma | |
|
Assurance Wireless |
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin | |
|
Cintex Wireless |
Arkansas, Maine, Maryland, Rhode Island, West Virginia | |
|
Copper Valley Wireless |
Alaska | |
|
Easy Wireless |
Oklahoma, Kentucky, Missouri | |
|
enTouch Wireless |
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming | |
|
Feelsafe Wireless |
California, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Wisconsin | |
|
GCI |
Alaska | |
|
Infiniti Mobile |
Georgia, Maryland, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Vermont, Wisconsin | |
|
Life Wireless |
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin | |
|
NewPhone Wireless |
Louisiana | |
|
Q Link Wireless |
Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin | |
|
Safelink Wireless |
Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin | |
|
SafetyNet Wireless |
California, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin | |
|
StandUp Wireless |
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin | |
|
TAG Mobile |
Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin | |
|
Tempo |
Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming | |
|
Terracom Wireless |
Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma (non-tribal), Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington*, West Virginia, Wisconsin | |
|
TruConnect |
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands | |
|
True Wireless |
Arkansas, Maryland, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas |
State-Specific Lifeline Program Information
The Lifeline program offers free or discounted phones to eligible consumers. Seniors in Alabama may qualify for a free mobile phone or landline via this program. You can learn more about the Lifeline program in Alabamaby visiting the state’s Public Service Commission.