Do I Qualify - GetConnectedFree

Do I Qualify?

Your household qualifies for the Benefit if it has an income at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines OR any member of the household:

Qualifies for Lifeline benefits through participation in SNAP, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit
Participates in one of several Tribal specific programs: Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal Head Start (only households meeting the relevant income qualifying standard), Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
Received a federal Pell Grant in the current award year
Received approval for benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision, in the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school year
Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program, and that provider received FCC approval for its eligibility verification process

Only one free monthly service discount and one device discount is allowed per household. Program rules acknowledge there may be more than one eligible household residing at the same address.

Qualify Through Your Child or Dependent

Any member of your household can make your household eligible. For example, if your child or dependent participates in the Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program, your household qualifies for the Free Internet Benefit.

If You Already Receive Lifeline Benefits

Lifeline is a program to help make communications services more affordable for low-income consumers. If you currently receive Lifeline benefits, you automatically qualify for the Emergency Broadband Benefit, and you can receive both benefits at the same time. You can apply your Free Internet Benefit and your Lifeline benefit to the same or separate services.

If You Use SNAP, Medicaid, or Other Programs

You can receive the Free Internet Benefit if you (or someone in your household) participates in one of these federal assistance programs:

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps
Medicaid
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
Tribal Specific Programs:
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance,
- Tribal Head Start (only households meeting the relevant income qualifying standard),
- Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF)
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, including at US Department of Agriculture Community Eligibility Provision schools
Received a Federal Pell Grant in the current award year

You may need to show a card, letter, or official document as proof that you participate in one of these programs when you apply for the Free Interent Benefit.

If Your Household Income Is a Certain Amount

You can get the Emergency Broadband Benefit if your income is 200% or less than the federal poverty guidelines. The guideline is based on your household size and state.

You will have to show proof of income, like pay stubs or a tax return, when you apply for the Free Internet Program.

Only one monthly service discount and one device discount is allowed per household.

A household is a group of people who live together and share money (even if they are not related to each other).

If you live together and share money, you are one household. If you either don’t live together or you don’t share money, you are two or more households.

You may have to answer questions about your household when you apply for the Free Internet Program.

One Household Examples

Multiple Households Examples

4 roommates who live together but do not share money are 4 households. All 4 can receive the Free Internet Benefit.
30 seniors who live in an assisted-living home but do not share money are 30 households. All 30 can receive the Free Internet Benefit.
A student who receives a Federal Pell Grant and lives alone is a different household than his or her parents. Both the student and their parents can receive their own benefits.

Note: These are general examples only.