Eligibility Verification

The Lifeline National Eligibility Verifier (National Verifier) checks consumer information when an application is submitted. This information is automatically checked against databases. If the consumer’s information is not found in the available databases, the consumer can provide additional information for verification.

Automatic Eligibility Verification

Identity and Address Verification

The National Verifier automatically verifies the consumer’s identity and address using:

  • Third-Party Identity Verification (TPIV),
  • USPS Address Matching Service (AMS), and
  • Data checks for duplicate benefits for the same person or the same address.

Program and Income Verification

The National Verifier automatically verifies a consumer’s participation in a qualifying government program through established Computer Matching Agreements (CMA) with state and federal government organizations.

USAC has federal data connections with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to verify participation in the Federal Public Housing Assistance program (FPHA), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to verify participation in Medicaid, and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to verify participation in qualifying Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit programs.

The table below provides information on automated data connections.

Note: Consumers in California, Oregon, and Texas benefit from the state database connection available in their respective states.

State Qualifying Programs with Automated Data Sources Manual Verifications (Additional Information Uploaded or Mailed)
Alabama Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
Alaska Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
American Samoa FPHA and Veterans Pension SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Tribal programs, income
Arizona SNAP, Tribal TANF, Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SSI, other Tribal programs, income
Arkansas Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
Colorado SNAP, Medicaid*, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SSI, Tribal programs, income
Connecticut SNAP, Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SSI, Tribal programs, income
Delaware Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
District of Columbia Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
Florida SNAP, Medicaid*, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SSI, Tribal programs, income
Georgia SNAP, Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SSI, Tribal programs, income
Guam FPHA and Veterans Pension SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Tribal programs, income
Hawaii Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
Idaho Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
Illinois Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
Indiana SNAP, Medicaid*, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SSI, Tribal programs, income
Iowa SNAP, Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SSI, Tribal programs, income
Kansas Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
Kentucky SNAP, Medicaid*, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SSI, Tribal programs, income
Louisiana Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SSI, Tribal programs, income
Maine Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
Maryland Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
Massachusetts Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension, SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
Michigan SNAP, Medicaid*, FPHA, SSI, and Veterans Pension Tribal programs, income
Minnesota SNAP, Medicaid*, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SSI, Tribal programs, income
Mississippi SNAP, Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SSI, Tribal programs, income
Missouri SNAP, Medicaid*, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SSI, Tribal programs, income
Montana Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
Nebraska Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
Nevada SNAP, Medicaid*, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SSI, Tribal programs, income
New Hampshire Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
New Jersey Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
New Mexico SNAP, Medicaid*, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SSI, Tribal programs, income
New York Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
North Carolina SNAP, Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SSI, Tribal programs, income
North Dakota Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
Northern Mariana Islands FPHA and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
Ohio Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
Oklahoma Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
Pennsylvania SNAP, Medicaid*, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SSI, Tribal programs, income
Puerto Rico NAP/PAN, Medicaid and FPHA. and Veterans Pension SSI, Tribal programs, income
Rhode Island Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
South Carolina SNAP, Medicaid*, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SSI, Tribal programs, income
South Dakota Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
Tennessee SNAP, Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SSI, Tribal programs, income
Utah SNAP, Medicaid*, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SSI, Tribal programs, income
Vermont Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
Virginia SNAP, Medicaid*, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SSI, Tribal programs, income
Virgin Islands Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
Washington SNAP, Medicaid*, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SSI, Tribal programs, income
West Virginia Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
Wisconsin SNAP, Medicaid*, FPHA, SSI, income, and Veterans Pension Tribal programs
Wyoming  Medicaid, FPHA, and Veterans Pension SNAP, SSI, Tribal programs, income
  • FPHA = Federal Public Housing Assistance
  • NAP/PAN = Nutrition Assistance Program (Puerto Rico’s Nutrition Assistance Program)
  • SNAP = Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
  • SSI = Supplemental Security Income
  • Tribal TANF = Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

*This state benefits from both a federal and state connection for Medicaid verification.

Manual Eligibility Verification

When a consumer’s information is not found, the consumer can provide additional information for verification. The information can be submitted online through the consumer or service provider portal or mailed to the Lifeline Support Center. Submitting supporting documentation to the National Verifier initiates a manual review process by agents at the Lifeline Support Center.

Information submitted to resolve application errors during business hours (9 a.m. – 9 p.m. ET) online is reviewed within minutes. Users are notified through the online portal when the information is reviewed. Consumers that submit information via mail to resolve application errors will receive a review decision via US Mail within seven to 10 business days.

Visit the Resolve Application Errors page for detailed information on what documentation is accepted to resolve specific errors.