Does Lifeline guarantee a free iPhone?

No. Lifeline is a monthly discount on phone or broadband service, up to $9.25 per month for most households and up to $34.25 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. It does not itself provide a phone, and it does not guarantee a free iPhone. Any device is a separate provider promotion, and those offers vary by provider, location, and time.

How much is the Lifeline discount?

The standard discount is up to $9.25 per month. Households on qualifying Tribal lands may receive up to $34.25 per month. Only one Lifeline discount is allowed per household, even if several people live at the same address.

Who can qualify for Lifeline?

You can qualify by income, if your total household income before taxes is at or below 135 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or by program participation, if anyone in your household currently receives SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or the Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit. Certain Tribal programs can also qualify households on Tribal lands. You only need to meet one path, not both.

Which iPhone model will I receive?

There is no guaranteed model. People compare the iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, iPhone 15, iPhone 16, and iPhone 17, but a provider promotion, when it exists, may offer an older model, a refurbished model, or a different model entirely, depending on stock and on your state and ZIP code. Ask the provider for the exact model, storage size, and condition in writing before you choose.

Which carriers should I research?

Carriers people often research include AirTalk Wireless, TAG Mobile, Assurance Wireless, SafeLink Wireless, TruConnect, and Life Wireless. They are listed here as carriers to research, not as verified offers, and no carrier is presented as guaranteeing a specific iPhone model or a $0 price. Check the carrier’s own current page for your ZIP code, and compare the service first, then any device offer separately.

Does my state or ZIP code affect availability?

Yes. Your ZIP code and your state affect which providers serve your area, which plans are available, and whether a device promotion is listed. In Oregon, many applicants go through the state’s own Lifeline process. In Texas, check the state process and the providers that serve your area. A result in one state does not automatically apply in another.

How do I apply?

Apply through the National Verifier, most often online through the official application portal linked from LifelineSupport.org, also known as getinternet.gov/apply. Gather identity, program or income proof, and address proof first. If you are approved, choose a Lifeline provider that serves your area and ask that company to apply the discount to your service. Approval does not automatically start service.

Do I need to recertify every year?

Yes. Lifeline subscribers must confirm each year that they still qualify, or the discount can end. Keep your documents and your contact details up to date, and tell your provider if you move, change providers, or your household changes.

Is the Affordable Connectivity Program still available?

No. The Affordable Connectivity Program, known as ACP, was a separate program that ended in 2024, and its $30 benefit is no longer available. A page that still advertises ACP as active should not be trusted for current eligibility.

How do I avoid scams?

Applying for Lifeline through the official National Verifier is free. Never share your full Social Security number, your passwords, or your bank details with an unofficial site. The National Verifier asks for the last four digits of your Social Security number, not for your full number on an advert page. Do not pay a fee to apply, and do not trust a message that promises a guaranteed device or says your benefit will end today unless you click a link.