How to Apply for Lifeline, Step by Step

Step 1: Check that you qualify

Before you apply, work out which path you qualify through. If your household income is at or below 135 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, you qualify through income. For 2026, that is $21,546 a year for one person and $44,550 a year for a household of four. If anyone in your household takes part in SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or the Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit, you qualify through that program instead. On Tribal lands, additional programs qualify as well. You only need one path, so pick the one that is easiest for you to prove. If you are not sure, read the Eligibility page first, and gather the documents for both paths if you can, so you are ready either way.

Step 2: Gather your documents

You will need proof of identity, proof of address, and proof of income or program participation. A driver's license, state ID, or passport works for identity. A utility bill, lease, or official letter works for address. A prior-year tax return or three months of pay stubs works for income, and a benefit letter or award letter works for program participation. Make sure names, dates, and addresses match across your documents, and make clear copies or photos before you start the application. If a document is old or unclear, get a newer one first, because a rejected document slows the process down.

Keep your documents in a safe place, and keep copies of everything you submit. If the Verifier asks for a document you do not have, ask your provider or the program office that issued the document for a replacement. Most agencies can provide a benefit letter or a statement of participation on request, and many can do it online or by phone.

Step 3: Apply through the National Verifier

The National Verifier is the official system that checks Lifeline eligibility. You can apply online at LifelineSupport.org or at getinternet.gov/apply, or you can mail a paper application if you prefer. The online application is the fastest route for most people. You will enter your name, date of birth, address, and the last four digits of your Social Security number, and you will say how you qualify. The Verifier checks your information against official records. If it can confirm your eligibility automatically, you will usually get an answer quickly.

If the Verifier cannot confirm your eligibility automatically, it will ask you to upload documents. That is normal. Upload clear photos or scans, check that nothing is cut off, and wait for the result. If a document is rejected, read the reason and submit a better one. Do not submit the same unclear document again and hope for a different result.

In Oregon and Texas, the process is different, because those states run their own eligibility checks. If you live in Oregon or Texas, follow the state instructions on LifelineSupport.org, and ask your provider for help if you are unsure. Everywhere else, the National Verifier is the route to use.

Step 4: Choose a provider

Once the Verifier approves you, choose a phone or internet company that takes part in Lifeline in your area. Not every company takes part, and the plans they offer are different. Compare the monthly price after the discount, the amount of data, the coverage where you live and work, and whether calls and texts are included. Ask about activation fees, shipping fees, and what happens if you want to change provider later. If the provider offers a phone, ask whether it is new or refurbished, which model it is, whether there is a warranty, and whether there is a fee for the phone itself. A free phone on a plan with poor coverage is not a good deal, and a modest phone on a plan that works well is usually better.

You can change provider later if you are not happy, but there are rules about how often you can switch, so ask about them before you sign up. Keep your approval notice from the Verifier, because your new provider may ask to see it.

Step 5: Keep your benefit

You must recertify every year to show that you still qualify. Each year, the Verifier or your provider will ask you to confirm your income or program participation. Respond promptly, and submit fresh documents if you are asked for them. If your income or program participation changes during the year, tell your provider. If you no longer qualify, your discount will end, and that is the correct outcome — keeping a discount you no longer qualify for can cause problems later.

If you move, tell your provider your new address, because Lifeline is tied to your household and your address. If you move to a different state, check whether the provider you use serves your new area, and whether the application process is different in that state.

If your application is denied, read the reason carefully. A denial often means a document was unclear, a name did not match, or the program you named does not qualify. You can usually fix the problem and apply again. If you believe the decision was wrong, you can ask for a review and provide more evidence. For more answers, see the FAQ page.