March 18, 2026
March Monthly System Maintenance
USAC will perform scheduled monthly system maintenance on Friday, March 20, from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 21.
The production environments of the following systems are impacted:
- National Verifier Portal
- National Verifier Carrier API
- National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD)
- Lifeline Claims System (LCS)
- Representative Accountability Database (RAD)
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Note: All scheduled maintenance dates for NV and NLAD are available on the USAC website.
March 11, 2026
Lifeline Claims System Updates
On March 18, 2026, USAC will make updates to the Lifeline Claims System (LCS) that will prevent providers from filing or revising claims for subscribers that USAC has determined are not eligible for the Lifeline benefit and have already been placed into a recovery action. These updates will automatically block original and revised claims for affected subscribers and introduce two new system error messages.
The update to LCS will affect the claims filing process for any subscriber who is initiated into an appealable recovery action after March 18. This change will not affect claims filings for subscribers who were initiated in the recovery process before March 18.
Original Claims Filing During Recovery Action
Service providers will not be able to submit original claims for subscribers who have been initiated for a recovery action. The system will automatically prevent original claims from being filed during the recovery period and a new error message will appear.
- In the claims template, the ‘Rate’ field will pre-populate to 0 and the ‘Reason Code’ field will be set to U7 – Subscriber subject to recovery Not Claimed Reason.
- Providers can select a different Not Claimed Reason code if applicable as long as the rate remains 0.
- If providers try to change the rate field to anything other than 0, the system will block the file upload, and a new error message will appear: Cannot enter rate as the subscriber is in a recovery. Please set the rate to 0 and use the Not Claimed Reason U7.
Revision Claims Filing During Recovery Action
Service providers will not be able to submit revised claims for subscribers who have been initiated for a recovery action. If a provider attempts to submit a revision, they will receive a new error message in the downloadable error file: Cannot change the rate as the subscriber is undergoing a recovery. Please set the rate to the previous filing’s rate.
To successfully upload a revision filing providers must:
- Restore the rate to the exact value for any subscribers undergoing a recovery action used in the previous certified filing.
- Re-upload the file.
Once the attempted revision of any subscribers undergoing a recovery action is unwound, the system will accept the revision.
February 26, 2026
Lifeline Newsletter – February 2026
- SAM.gov UEI Requirement
- FCC Form 481 Filing Window Opens April 1
- Updated Lifeline Income Qualifications for 2026
- Lifeline Program Compliance Reminder: Non-Usage
- March 2026 Webinar: How to Apply for Lifeline
- March Maintenance Schedule
View the full newsletter.
February 25, 2026
Updated Lifeline Income Qualifications for 2026
USAC has updated its forms, systems, and resources to reflect the 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines which were released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) last month. These guidelines are used to determine if a consumer can qualify for Lifeline based on their income. Consumers qualify for the Lifeline benefit if their income is at or below 135 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Service providers may review the following pages for more information:
Service providers should update their forms and systems as soon as possible to reflect the new income requirements. Providers operating in National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) opt-out states (Oregon and Texas) should follow their state’s guidance.
February 23, 2026
Ad – Hoc System Maintenance
USAC will perform an ad-hoc system maintenance on Thursday, February 26, from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET.
The production environments of the following systems are impacted:
- National Verifier Portal
- National Verifier Carrier API
NLAD functions that require the National Verifier will also be affected (e.g., enroll or transfer transactions).
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
