Lifeline Program Helps Native Consumers Stay Connected in Today’s Digital World

Published June 26, 2019

WASHINGTON — Access to affordable voice and internet service is vital to the quality of life for consumers who want to stay connected to health care clinics, loved ones, and workforce opportunities. Yet affordable and accessible service remains a challenge for millions of rural and native consumers who are constrained by distance and density limitations.  The federal Lifeline program provides a way to close the affordability gap for these consumers by offering a monthly discount of up to $34.25 towards their phone or internet bill. This benefit helps those who otherwise would never have a chance to connect to their communities and families. Currently, over 9 million consumers participate in the Lifeline Program, and of those, 274,000 are native households.

How to Apply

If you are interested in receiving the Lifeline discount, there are a few ways you can apply and demonstrate eligibility to qualify for this benefit. The first is through participation in a federal program. If you are in a federal program like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Medicaid you qualify for the Lifeline discount. You also qualify if you live on federally-recognized Tribal lands and take part in programs like the Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF), or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations. You may also prove program eligibility through your income if it is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines.

Universal Service Administrative Company staff present at National Congress of American Indians earlier this year in Washington, D.C.

To apply for Lifeline, you will need a document that proves you are eligible for the benefit. You may also need an item that you proves your identity such as an unexpired Driver’s License or Tribal issued ID and an item that proves your address such as a utility bill.  For more information regarding the Lifeline eligibility criteria, visit the program’s website which will give you additional information on the application process and which phone companies participate in this program. To find out which companies serve your area, you can input your zip code or city and state in the Companies Near Me tool on Lifeline’s website.

Additional Resources

If you have general questions about the Lifeline Program, you can contact the Lifeline Support Center at LifelineSupport@usac.org or (800) 234-9473. If you are a caseworker, social service agent, or consumer support representative and would like to be added to Lifeline’s consumer advocate and tribal distribution lists, email LifelineProgram@usac.org to receive updates on the program, upcoming events, and specific content for tribal communities.

For more information, contact Lifeline at (800) 234-9473 or visit LifelineSupport.org.