Upcoming Dates
Manage Your Account
Verify consumer eligibility and dispute verification failures:
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/Native 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
Non-Usage Waiver Expires May 1
Apr 19, 2021
In February, the FCC released a waiver extending most of the previous waivers related to the COVID-19 pandemic by an additional four months. However, this waiver does not extend the waiver for the FCC’s Lifeline non-usage rule past May 1. As a result, subscribers who, as of May 1, 2021, have not used their service in the previous...
Read MoreSystem Maintenance Notice
Apr 14, 2021
National Verifier Maintenance, April 14 The National Verifier production and staging environments will be unavailable due to unscheduled maintenance today,...
Read MoreApril System Maintenance Schedule
Apr 14, 2021
Monthly System Maintenance, Apr. 30
The National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD),...
Read MoreLifeline – March 2021 Newsletter
Mar 31, 2021
March monthly newsletter headlines:
- USAC’s Monthly Lifeline Program Compliance Reminders: Minimum Service Standards
- Reminder: Lifeline Program Changes in Response...
March System Maintenance Schedule
Mar 17, 2021
Monthly System Maintenance, Mar. 19
The National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD),...
Read More