Lifeline
Lowering the monthly cost of phone or internet service
Upcoming Dates
Manage Your Account
Access USAC’s single sign-on dashboard. Lifeline service providers can log into the National Verifier, NLAD, and LCS using One Portal.
Use these links to directly access:
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).
Become an ETC
Create a Compliance Plan
Obtain a Study Area Code
Obtain a 498 ID
Announcements
California Subscribers Continued Eligibility Slated for August
Jun 16, 2026
Under direction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and pursuant to the FCC OIG Advisory Regarding Deceased and Duplicate Lifeline Subscribers, USAC will be initiating a continued eligibility process for federal subscribers who were previously determined eligible by the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC). The continued eligibility process is anticipated to start in August, and subscribers...
Read MoreAd-Hoc System Maintenance, June 18
Jun 11, 2026
USAC will perform ad-hoc system maintenance on Thursday, June 18. The following systems are impacted:
On June 5, 2026, the Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a...
Read MoreAd-Hoc System Maintenance
Jun 8, 2026
USAC will perform an ad-hoc system maintenance on Tuesday, June 9, from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m....
Read MoreNew Lifeline Instructional Videos
Jun 2, 2026
USAC has released a new series of “how to apply for Lifeline” videos, optimized for mobile learning....
Read More