How It Works

Lifeline is a federal program that offers a monthly benefit of up to $9.25 towards phone or internet services for eligible subscribers (up to $34.25 for those living on Tribal lands).

Eligible Consumers

A consumer can qualify for the Lifeline benefit if their income is 135% or less than the federal poverty guidelines, or if they participate in SNAP, Medicaid, or other federal programs. See the full list of qualifying factors.

Eligible Services

Lifeline subscribers can apply their benefit to home or mobile phone service or to high-speed broadband.

The Process

These steps will help service providers navigate the process to join Lifeline as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC).

1

Become an ETC

2

Create a Compliance Plan

3

Obtain a Study Area Code

4

Obtain a 498 ID

Announcements

Ad Hoc System Maintenance, November 24

USAC will perform an ad-hoc system maintenance on Monday, November 24 from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. ET on Tuesday, November 25.

Users may experience intermittent issues with the production environments of the following systems:

  • National Verifier Portal
  • ...

Read More
Lifeline November 2025 Newsletter

  • FCC Form 555 Due February 2, 2026
  • ...

Read More
FCC Announces California to Participate in NLAD

On November 20, 2025, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued an...

Read More
November Monthly System Maintenance

USAC will perform scheduled monthly system maintenance on Friday, November 21, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m....

Read More
November System Maintenance

Ad Hoc System Maintenance, November 19

USAC will perform an ad-hoc system maintenance on Wednesday, November 19 from 9...

Read More