Jonah JacobsHow often do you use your phone or Internet? The answer is probably every day, and it may even be every minute when you take your other family members into account.
Since we use the phone and Internet so much, especially nowadays, they’re costs that cannot be eliminated from our budgets. No longer are they luxuries, but necessities, which means that paying the least amount for these services is a goal many of us would like to achieve.
How can you pay less for phone and Internet? You could shop around, get the cheapest, plan, and so on. Or you could apply for the FCC’s Lifeline program and use it to get discounted service. Here are some frequently asked questions about the program:
How Much Is the Lifeline Discount?
You can get up to a $9.25 monthly discount on your phone (landline or cell) or Internet service through Lifeline. It’s not a huge discount, but in this current financial climate, every dollar counts.
If you live on federal tribal lands, you can get an additional $25 discount, which would reduce your phone or Internet bill by a total of $34.25.
Does Lifeline Offer Free Cell Phones?
In some cases, yes, you can get a free cell phone as a Lifeline recipient. This depends on the participating company you choose.
For example, Assurance Wireless offered Lifeline customers a free Android phone, plus free unlimited texts, voice minutes, call waiting, caller ID, voicemail, and multiple GB of free data.
How Can You Find a Local Company That Participates in Lifeline?
Click here to find your nearest participating provider by entering your city and state or zip code into the corresponding fields.
Can you use Lifeline to get discounts on your cell, landline, and Internet service simultaneously?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question is no. There’s a limit of one discount per household, so you can get just one of those services at a lower cost through the program.
Is Everyone Eligible for Lifeline?
No. You’ll need to make less than 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, or you’ll need to receive benefits from government programs like SNAP, Medicaid, Section 8, SSI, etc., to qualify.
To show that you qualify, you will need to provide proof in the form of three consecutive pay stubs, a tax return, or an official card or letter that corresponds to your government program.
How Do You Apply for Lifeline?
Find a participating company using the link listed above. Once you have their contact information, give them a call and say that you’d like to apply for Lifeline. They’ll give you an application to fill out. You will need to provide documentation to prove income or participation in a government program, along with some form of valid ID to complete your application.
While you can apply for Lifeline by mail, choose the online method instead. It’s a lot faster and can offer immediate approval so you can see those saving sooner.
Mark Luigi Dacumos
