The income path: 135 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
Your total household income before taxes must be at or below 135 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. These guidelines are updated every year, and the dollar limit depends on your household size and where you live. For example, in 2026, the limit for a household of one in the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., was reported as $21,546 per year. A larger household has a higher limit, and Alaska and Hawaii have higher limits than the 48 contiguous states. Because the figures change annually, check the current table on the official USAC Lifeline site before you apply, rather than relying on an old figure or a figure from a different year.
Proof of income, if you are applying by income, can include a prior-year tax return, three consecutive months of pay stubs, or a Social Security, veterans, or retirement benefits statement. The name, the dates, and the household details on the document should match your application. If your income has changed recently, use the document that best shows your current household income, and follow the National Verifier’s instructions about which proof it will accept.
The program path: SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, housing, and Veterans Pension
If you, a dependent, or anyone in your household currently participates in one of these programs, you may qualify on that basis alone. The programs are the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP; Medicaid; Supplemental Security Income, known as SSI; Federal Public Housing Assistance, including Section 8; and the Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit. You do not need to be in more than one of these programs. One current participation is enough, as long as it can be proved.
Proof of program participation can include a current benefit award letter, a statement of benefits, or a program card that shows active enrollment. The document should show that the participation is current, not that it ended in a past year. If the National Verifier can check your eligibility automatically against government databases, you may not need to upload proof at all. If it cannot, it will tell you which document to provide.
Tribal programs and the higher Tribal discount
Certain Tribal programs can also qualify households on Tribal lands, including Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, and income-eligible Tribal Head Start. Households on qualifying Tribal lands may receive up to $34.25 per month, rather than the standard $9.25 per month. Whether the higher amount applies depends on where you live and whether the land qualifies under the Lifeline rules. Check the official Lifeline guidance for Tribal lands, and ask the National Verifier or a provider that serves your area if you are unsure.
One discount per household, and state differences
Only one Lifeline discount is allowed per household, even if several people live at the same address. A household, for Lifeline purposes, is generally people who live together and share income and expenses. A second person at the same address does not create a second discount, and applying twice for the same household can cause delays.
Your ZIP code and your state affect availability. In Oregon, many applicants go through the state’s own Lifeline process, and the Oregon Public Utility Commission provides state guidance on who qualifies and how to apply in Oregon. In Texas, applicants also need to check the state process and the providers that serve their area, because availability and the application route can differ from the national online route. A provider that serves one state may not serve another, and a device offer that is listed in one state may not be listed in another.
- Check whether you qualify by income or by program, or both.
- Choose the document that best proves that path.
- Make sure names, dates, and addresses match your application.
- Check the providers that serve your ZIP code and your state.
- Do not assume a device is included, and do not assume a specific model.
If you are not sure which path fits you, start with the program path if anyone in your household currently receives SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or the Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit, because that proof is often the simplest to provide. If no one in your household receives one of those programs, use the income path and the income document that best shows your household income before taxes.
What eligibility does not promise
Eligibility for Lifeline means you may receive the monthly service discount. It does not mean a provider will offer you a phone, and it does not mean you will receive a particular iPhone model. A device is a separate provider promotion, and those offers vary by provider, location, and time. Lifeline does not guarantee a free iPhone, and no carrier should be treated as guaranteeing a specific model or a $0 price. Compare the service first, then compare any device offer separately, using the provider’s own current terms for your area.