Eligibility
Qualify through household income or a recognized assistance program such as SNAP or Medicaid.
Learn more →resource
Lifeline Program Guide: Benefit, Eligibility and Provider Steps
Understand the current Lifeline benefit, qualifying programs, 135% income route, one-per-household rule, provider role and recertification process.
Lifeline program guide
How the federal Lifeline benefit works with Gov iPhone
Lifeline is a federal benefit that helps eligible households pay for qualifying communications service. The federal program determines eligibility and continued participation; Gov iPhone provides the separate wireless service, device promotion and customer support.
The four Lifeline rules every applicant should understand
One per household
Only one Lifeline benefit is allowed per economic household, even when several people live at one address.
Connect with a provider
After eligibility, a consumer uses the benefit with a participating phone or internet company.
Continued eligibility
Respond to recertification or other official continued-eligibility requests when required.
Learn more →Federal benefit
Lifeline can reduce the cost of qualifying phone, broadband or bundled service. USAC handles program administration and federal verification in most states.
Provider promotion
Gov iPhone may pair eligible service with a $0 promotional phone when the actual provider offer includes it. The federal program does not choose the iPhone.
Practical next step
Use Lifeline eligibility as the foundation, then compare the provider offer
Once the eligibility path is clear, review service availability and the exact phone promotion rather than assuming every Lifeline customer receives the same device or plan.
Lifeline program questions
What does Lifeline pay for?+
Lifeline provides a monthly federal benefit toward qualifying communications service. The amount depends on the service type and can be enhanced on qualifying Tribal lands.
Does Lifeline itself give away iPhones?+
No. A free iPhone is a provider promotion offered separately from the federal service benefit.
How often is Lifeline eligibility checked?+
Continued eligibility is checked through recertification or other continued-eligibility processes when required. If the system can verify eligibility automatically, the subscriber may not need to take action.
Can more than one person at an address have Lifeline?+
More than one benefit at an address can exist only when the subscribers are in separate economic households. One Lifeline benefit is allowed per household.
Gov iPhone next step
Continue with the right Gov iPhone step
Use the provider application, eligibility tool, phone catalog or support page that matches your situation.
Program information from primary sources
Federal program claims on Gov iPhone are supported with USAC and Lifeline Support references so customers can distinguish official Lifeline rules from provider-specific free phone and service offers.