Where Things Stand Right Now
The Affordable Connectivity Program, the big federal discount that once trimmed $30 a month off internet bills, ran out of funding and stopped taking applications after June 1, 2024. Congress has not passed a direct replacement, so households that relied on that credit had to find other options. The good news is that a patchwork of federal, state, and private-sector help remains active, and most families can still lower their monthly connectivity costs by stacking a couple of programs together.
The most reliable federal option is the Lifeline program, overseen by the FCC and administered through certified phone and internet providers. Lifeline gives a monthly discount on one communications service per household, either home internet, a wireless phone plan, or a bundled voice-and-data package. Basic voice-only support sits around $5.25 a month, and the FCC paused the phase-out of voice-only Lifeline until December 1, 2026, so that option remains available for eligible subscribers. When you apply Lifeline to a broadband plan, the discount can be noticeably larger, and some providers combine it with their own low-income offers.
Do You Qualify?
Eligibility for Lifeline follows two common paths. You qualify if your household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or if someone in your household participates in programs like Medicaid, SNAP, Supplemental Security Income, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or the National School Lunch Program. Households on Tribal lands can qualify at higher income thresholds and receive an enhanced Lifeline benefit, so it is worth checking that separately if it applies to you.
A 2026 Department of Justice opinion clarified that non-citizens generally need to meet PRWORA welfare eligibility rules, meaning qualified status and at least five years in the U.S., to enroll in Lifeline. If you are unsure whether you qualify, the National Verifier run by USAC processes applications and confirms eligibility based on income or program participation. You will need your Social Security number or Tribal ID, a valid ID, and proof of address.
Stacking Federal and State Help
Lifeline works even better when paired with state-level support. California LifeLine, for example, got a major update in October 2026. The California Public Utilities Commission now funds three wireless service tiers with a $20 monthly subsidy each, offered at no cost to participants: 8 GB of data with a 24-hour portability freeze, 15 GB with a 60-day freeze, or 20 GB with a 90-day freeze. Subscribers who also receive the federal $9.25 Lifeline benefit get an additional 4.5 GB of data, pushing total monthly data to 12.5 GB and up to 24.5 GB depending on the provider. That is more than double the previous standard.
New York has the Affordable Broadband Act, which requires larger providers to offer home internet at $15 a month for 25 Mbps or $20 a month for 200 Mbps to qualifying households. New Mexico runs the Low-Income Telecommunications Assistance Program, Oregon offers an additional broadband discount plus a computer purchase credit, and Connecticut mandates a low-cost plan of $40 a month or less for eligible households. Illinois, Colorado, Washington, and Minnesota are developing their own state broadband benefit programs, so checking your state's public utility commission website is a smart first move.
Provider Low-Income Plans Worth Comparing
With ACP gone, the major internet providers stepped in with their own discounted plans. These do not require a credit check, and eligibility is usually tied to SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, or Lifeline participation, sometimes within the past 180 days, or Pell Grant receipt within the past year. Availability depends on your address, so verify before applying.
| Plan | Monthly cost | Speed | Eligibility basics | Notes |
|---|
| Xfinity Internet Essentials | around $15 | 75 Mbps | Federal assistance programs or income at 200% of poverty level | Includes gateway, unlimited data, WiFi hotspots; low-cost computer option |
| Xfinity Internet Essentials Plus | around $30 | 100 Mbps | Same as above | Better for streaming and larger households |
| Spectrum Internet Assist | varies | ~30 Mbps | SNAP, Medicaid, or National School Lunch Program | New York residents have additional conditions |
| AT&T Access | varies by area | up to 100 Mbps | SNAP, Medicaid, or other federal programs | Speed depends on location |
| T-Mobile Project 10Million | no cost to eligible families | mobile hotspot, 200 GB per year | K-12 student on National School Lunch Program | Hotspot service for up to five years |
Comcast expanded Internet Essentials in November 2025 so households can now qualify based on income alone, specifically families of four earning less than around $64,300, which opens the program to millions more people. A low-cost laptop is available for about $150 for those who need a device.
Applying for Internet Government Assistance: Step by Step
Start with Lifeline because it is the foundation most other discounts build on. Go to the National Verifier at lifelinesupport.org, create an account, and answer the questions about your household size, income, and benefit programs. You will upload or mail proof documents such as a benefit award letter, tax return, pay stubs, or a photo ID. Once approved, you choose a certified Lifeline provider in your area and apply the discount to a home internet plan, a wireless plan, or a bundle. Many providers let you apply during signup, so you do not need to manage a separate account.
Next, check your state programs. The California LifeLine example above shows how much a state subsidy can add on top of the federal benefit. Search for "[your state] Lifeline" or "[your state] broadband discount" and look for the public utility commission or state broadband office. Then compare provider plans at your address. Use an availability checker with your ZIP code to see which low-income plans are actually offered there, since coverage varies widely even within a single city.
One practical tip: some households can stack Lifeline with a provider low-income plan, and the combined discount can bring a home internet bill down to a very manageable level. Because Lifeline applies to one service per household, decide whether the discount helps most on your phone bill or your home internet bill, then apply it accordingly.
Real-Life Ways People Make It Work
Take Sarah in Sacramento, a single mother with two kids on Medicaid. She applied for the federal Lifeline benefit first, then enrolled in a California LifeLine wireless tier that came with unlimited talk and text plus 15 GB of data at no monthly cost. That covered her phone. For home internet, she qualified for Xfinity Internet Essentials at around $15 a month because of her Medicaid enrollment. Her total monthly connectivity spending dropped from over $100 to a fraction of that.
In rural Texas, Marcus works a seasonal job and relies on SNAP. He used the National Verifier to confirm eligibility, then signed up for a Lifeline-supported wireless plan through a certified provider. He also found a local library that lends mobile hotspots for three-week periods, which covers his household during the months his work schedule shifts.
Where to Turn for Local Help
Beyond the federal and provider programs, libraries and nonprofits fill real gaps. Many public library systems lend hotspots and Chromebooks, and community colleges often offer free WiFi to students and enrolled families. Programs like Human-I-T and PCs for People provide refurbished computers and connectivity support in several markets at low cost for eligible households. Senior centers in many states host digital skills classes that walk participants through applying for Lifeline on-site, which is a huge help for older adults who are not comfortable applying online.
If your Lifeline application gets denied or your service has problems, contact the Lifeline Support Center first. For billing disputes with a provider, file a complaint with the FCC through its online consumer complaint portal, and your state public utility commission can also intervene on your behalf.
A Few Cautions Before You Apply
Scammers have stepped in to fill the gap left by ACP, advertising fake "free internet" programs or charging a fee to "help" you apply. Lifeline and state programs never charge application fees, and you should only apply through lifelinesupport.org or your state's official website. Guard your Social Security number, and treat any unsolicited call offering government internet discounts as suspicious.
The picture in 2026 is more fragmented than it was a few years ago, but the pieces are still there: the federal Lifeline discount, stronger state programs like California LifeLine and New York's Affordable Broadband Act, provider plans built for low-income households, and local resources like library hotspots. Check your eligibility through the National Verifier today, compare what your state offers, and stack the benefits you qualify for. A stable connection for work, school, and telehealth is within reach, you just have to know where to look.
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