Reverification

Reverification is the one-time process to confirm that all subscribers enrolled in the Lifeline program through legacy processes (i.e., pre-National Verifier processes) meet the National Verifier’s eligibility standards.

Timeline

USAC is resuming the reverification process to verify the continued eligibility of subscribers who have yet to complete the process. USAC will reverify subscribers in 4 groups, service providers may have subscribers in all or some of these groups:

  • Group 1 (Final Outreach to Subscribers): Starting on December 6, 2023, USAC will conduct outreach to subscribers who require additional documentation to complete their reverification. All final documentation is due between February 9 – 17, 2024.
  • Group 2 (Existing Documentation Due): Starting on January 9, 2024, USAC will open the 45-day window for service providers to provide on-hand documentation to USAC. All on-hand documentation is due by February 23, 2024.
  • Group 3 (Final Documentation Due): Starting on December 6, 2023, USAC will open the final document submission window for service providers to conduct outreach to subscribers. Service providers must collect and submit all final documentation to USAC. All final documentation is due by June 28, 2024.
  • Group 4 (Final Outreach to Subscribers): Starting May 15, 2024, USAC will conduct outreach to subscribers who require additional documentation to complete their reverification. These subscribers may not appear on the reverification report until later in 2024. All final documentation is due between July 17 – 19, 2024.

Providers should refer to the “Reverification Group” listed on the Reverification Subscriber Status Report in the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) to identify the timeline for each subscriber.

The table below provides a high-level timeline of the reverification process, USAC will notify subscribers of their specific due date within the listed final documentation due date range:

Existing Documentation Due Consumer Outreach Final Documentation Due*
Group 1 Previously completed Starts December 6, 2023 Between February 9 – 17, 2024
Group 2 February 23, 2024 Starts May 15, 2024 Between July 17 – 21, 2024
Group 3**  Starts December 6, 2023 Starts December 6, 2023 June 28, 2024
Group 4 Previously completed Starts May 15, 2024 Between July 17 – 19, 2024

*Outreach will be conducted in daily batches and subscribers will be notified by USAC of their specific due date within the listed range.

**Service providers with subscribers in Group 3 are required to reach out to their consumers to collect documentation for any remaining errors. They must submit the final documents to USAC by the deadline.

Overview

The chart below provides a high-level overview of the reverification process.

This image provides a step-by-step overview of the reverification processStep 1: National Verifier Performs Automated Database Checks

Reverification utilizes several checks to verify a subscriber’s eligibility, identity, and address.

  • Eligibility databases
  • Third-Party Identity Verification (TPIV), including checking whether the subscriber is deceased
  • USPS Address Matching Service (AMS)
  • Data checks for duplicate benefits for the same address

Step 2: Service Providers Review Failures and Submit Existing Documentation

If the National Verifier cannot verify a subscriber’s eligibility through the database checks, service providers will be required to submit any available documentation they have on file for failed subscribers.

Once USAC makes an announcement opening the 45-day on-hand submission window, service providers will:

  • Login to NLAD and pull the Reverification Subscriber Status Report.
  • Review the failures and gather any existing on-hand documentation that would resolve the failures.
    • Existing on-hand documentation to resolve address, identity, or duplicate address failures will be accepted. However, recent documentation will be required for subscribers with eligibility or deceased failures.
Failure Documentation Required to Resolve Failure
Data Source Check Fail Proof of program or income eligibility (must have an issue date within the last 12 months or a future expiration date and requires submission of a new Lifeline application)
TPIV DOB Failure Proof of date of birth
TPIV SSN Failure Proof of last four digits of SSN or Tribal ID number
TPIV Not Found Failure Proof of identity
TPIV Deceased Proof of life (must have an issue date within last 3 months)
AMS Fail Proof of address
Duplicate Address Failure Lifeline Household Worksheet
Cert Form Required Lifeline Application Form

For more information on acceptable documentation, visit the Resolve Application Errors page.

  • Send the documents to USAC within 45 days after USAC’s on-hand document submission announcement.

Mail paper documents (please note this is the only submission method available for providers):

Ensure mail is postmarked by day 45 of your submission deadline and includes a cover page. The cover page below is required for all paper submissions and the “Application ID” and “Last Name” fields must be completed. Use the cover sheet to create separation between each subscriber’s documentation (do not staple or paper clip).

 Mail Items to:

Lifeline Support Center
PO Box 9100
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18733

Step 3: Outreach to Subscribers to Collect New Documentation

If the National Verifier cannot verify a subscriber’s eligibility through the database checks, or from the documentation provided by the service provider, USAC will reach out to subscribers to collect documentation for unresolved errors.

Subscribers will receive a letter from USAC requesting the documentation needed to reverify their eligibility in Lifeline. The letter will provide details on what documentation is needed and how they can submit it to USAC. They will be required to submit documentation within 60 days.

Step 4: National Verifier Determines Eligibility for Subscribers

USAC will review all of the documentation collected, whether the service provider or USAC conducted the subscriber outreach.

  • Subscribers that successfully complete reverification will keep their Lifeline benefit. No further action is required until they are required to recertify their eligibility.
  • USAC will de-enroll subscribers that fail reverification from NLAD and mail a de-enrollment notice.
    After the reverification process is complete, the Failed Reverification De-Enroll Report in NLAD will show which subscribers failed the reverification process and that USAC has de-enrolled.

USAC Communications

USAC will make several announcements (via email and the USAC website) regarding the reverification process and window openings.

  • On-hand Documentation Submission: Opens the 45-day window for service providers to provide on-hand documentation to USAC.
  • Reminders: Notifications to service providers reminding them of upcoming document submission deadlines.
  • Outreach to Subscribers: USAC will notify service providers when outreach is conducted to subscribers who require additional documentation to complete reverification. Subscribers will be given 60 days to respond with the documentation.
  • De-enrollments: USAC will notify any affected service providers before any subscribers are de-enrolled for failing to reverify.

Service providers may reach out to their subscribers before USAC begins outreach to subscribers to inform them about USAC and the reverification process. Correspondence may include:

  • General information about USAC and the requirement to reverify their eligibility to keep their benefits.
  • USAC will reach out to them and request personal documentation from them.
  • If they do not respond with the needed documentation within the 60-day window, they will lose their Lifeline benefit.

Service providers should not tell subscribers timeframes of when they should expect to receive these letters as these dates are subject to change.