To qualify for the Obama Phone program — officially called Lifeline — your household must either earn at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or include someone who receives Medicaid, SNAP, Supplemental Security Income, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or a Veterans Pension or Survivors Benefit.1eCFR. 47 CFR 54.409 – Consumer Qualification for Lifeline2Universal Service Administrative Company. About Lifeline3Universal Service Administrative Company. How to Apply for and Manage the Lifeline Benefit The discount goes to the provider, not to you, and some carriers offer plans priced so the subsidy covers the full monthly cost.
Qualifying by Income
Your total household income has to be at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for a household your size. Based on the 2026 guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and D.C., the caps are:4HHS ASPE. 2026 Poverty Guidelines
- 1 person: $21,546
- 2 people: $29,214
- 3 people: $36,882
- 4 people: $44,550
Each additional person adds roughly $7,668. Alaska and Hawaii use separate, higher figures because their federal poverty guidelines are set separately.
Qualifying Through a Federal Assistance Program
You automatically qualify if you or anyone in your household receives benefits from any one of these programs:1eCFR. 47 CFR 54.409 – Consumer Qualification for Lifeline
- Medicaid
- SNAP (food stamps)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance, including Section 8 vouchers, public housing, and project-based rental assistance
- Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
One program is enough. If the National Verifier can confirm your enrollment through government databases, you don’t have to prove your income separately.5Universal Service Administrative Company. How to Qualify
If you live on qualifying Tribal lands, four more pathways open up: Bureau of Indian Affairs general assistance, Tribally administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Head Start (if your household meets its income standard), and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations. These pathways also carry the larger $34.25 monthly discount.1eCFR. 47 CFR 54.409 – Consumer Qualification for Lifeline
The One-Per-Household Rule
Only one Lifeline discount is allowed per household, and this rule catches people off guard in shared living situations. A household is everyone at the same address who shares income and expenses, whether they’re related or not.6Universal Service Administrative Company. Lifeline Program Household Worksheet
The test is whether you share money with the other adults at your address. Contributing to common bills, food, or housing counts as sharing. Married couples are always treated as one household. But four roommates who split nothing beyond the lease can each qualify as their own household, in which case they complete a Household Worksheet showing they are separate economic units. The distinction matters most in group homes, assisted-living facilities, and multi-family residences.6Universal Service Administrative Company. Lifeline Program Household Worksheet
What to Have Ready Before You Apply
Every applicant provides the last four digits of their Social Security number, or a Tribal identification number if they don’t have an SSN, along with a residential address where service will be delivered. P.O. boxes are not accepted as your home address.7Universal Service Administrative Company. Lifeline Program Application Form
Automatic verification through government databases handles many applications with no further paperwork. When it can’t, you’ll need to send in documents.
If you’re applying based on income, acceptable proof includes a prior year’s federal, state, or Tribal tax return, a current income statement from your employer, or pay stubs covering three consecutive months within the past year. Social Security benefit statements, VA benefit statements, and retirement or pension statements also work.8eCFR. 47 CFR 54.410 – Subscriber Eligibility Determination and Certification
If you’re applying based on program participation, send an official document showing you’re enrolled — a benefit award letter, statement of benefits, or notice of participation from the agency. It must show your name, the program name, and a date within the current or prior year.8eCFR. 47 CFR 54.410 – Subscriber Eligibility Determination and Certification
How to Apply
The fastest route is the National Verifier, Lifeline’s centralized eligibility system. Go to LifelineSupport.org, fill out FCC Form 5629, and upload any supporting documents. The system checks government databases automatically, so many applicants get an answer within minutes.9Universal Service Administrative Company. National Verifier
To apply by mail, send the completed Form 5629 and copies of your documents to the USAC Lifeline Support Center at P.O. Box 1000, Horseheads, NY 14845.7Universal Service Administrative Company. Lifeline Program Application Form Paper takes longer because a reviewer has to work through it by hand, and any unclear document triggers a follow-up letter that adds more time.
Approval by itself does not turn on your service. Once the National Verifier confirms you qualify, you have to pick a participating Lifeline provider and sign up with them separately. USAC’s “Companies Near Me” tool at cnm.universalservice.org lists providers by zip code.10Universal Service Administrative Company. Companies Near Me The list isn’t always complete, so it’s worth calling carriers directly to ask whether they offer Lifeline at your address.
Keeping the Benefit Each Year
Lifeline is not a one-time enrollment. Every year you have to confirm that you still qualify. Your provider will send a recertification notice, and you have 60 days to respond. Miss that window and the provider must remove you from the program within five business days after the deadline.11eCFR. 47 CFR 54.405 – Carrier Obligation to Offer Lifeline De-enrollment cuts off the discount immediately, and getting it back means reapplying from scratch. The most common reason people lose the benefit isn’t a change in eligibility; it’s a missed notice. Keep your mailing address, email, and phone number current with both your provider and USAC.
Truthfulness on the Application
The application is signed under penalty of perjury. Knowingly providing false information can be punished by fine or imprisonment under federal law, and the most common violation is claiming the benefit in more than one household.12Federal Communications Commission. FCC Lifeline Enforcement Order The National Verifier cross-checks applications against its database to catch duplicates.
Lifeline Is Not the ACP
If you’re thinking of the $30 monthly internet discount, that was the Affordable Connectivity Program, and it ended on June 1, 2024 when funding ran out.13Federal Communications Commission. Affordable Connectivity Program Consumer FAQ Lifeline is a separate program with its own funding and is still open. Former ACP recipients often qualify for Lifeline, though the $9.25 discount is smaller, and not every ACP provider participates in Lifeline, so a carrier switch may be necessary.