Lifeline Phones

Lifeline is a federal program that lowers the monthly cost of phone or internet service for people who qualify. Some of the phone companies that take part offer a phone with talk, text, and data at no cost once the Lifeline discount is applied, although fewer offer free plans than in past years. A Lifeline phone gives you a number of your own, so that verification codes and calls from agencies, clinics, and friends can reach you directly.

Eligibility

As of 2026, a household can qualify in either of two ways.

• When the household's income is at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
• When someone in the household takes part in certain federal programs, such as Medicaid, SNAP, Supplemental Security Income, or the Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit.

Lifeline allows one discount per household. The full rules are at lifelinesupport.org. In February 2026, the Federal Communications Commission proposed changes to Lifeline that could affect who qualifies and how enrollment works, so volunteers check the current rules each time they help with an application.

Applying

In most states, applications go through the National Verifier, the federal system linked from lifelinesupport.org, while California, Oregon, and Texas run their own enrollment. In many states the National Verifier checks automatically whether you qualify, using federal program records. When it asks for proof, a recent benefits letter or a screenshot of an online benefits account usually works, as long as it shows your name, the program, the agency, and a recent date. Once you are approved, you choose a phone company that offers Lifeline in your state, and some companies ship the phone, which can take several days to arrive.

Help at a Session

During an in-person session, a volunteer can sit with you while you take these steps.

• Check whether you are likely to qualify.
• Fill out the application on a VOICE device or your own.
• Compare the phone companies that offer Lifeline in your area.
• Upload any documents that the application requests.

After your phone arrives, a volunteer can help you change your accounts so that their verification codes go to your new number.

A Lifeline plan that costs nothing has to be used at least once every 30 days, and every Lifeline subscriber confirms their eligibility each year, or the service can end. A volunteer can help with the yearly renewal.