A prepaid smartphone with any kind of reasonable data plan runs $30 to $60 a month. For a family already stretched thin on groceries and rent, that's a serious bill. And yet, without a working phone, it's nearly impossible to hold a job, manage a kid's school enrollment, keep a medical appointment, or deal with any government agency that requires you to call during business hours.
The good news is that several programs exist specifically to close this gap. Some will get you a free phone. Others bring your monthly bill down to $10 or $15. A few are federally funded; others come from major carriers running their own low-income initiatives. Knowing which ones you qualify for, and which ones to actually bother with, takes some sorting out.
Here's what's currently available and how each program works.
The federal Lifeline program
Lifeline is the main federal program for low-income phone and internet assistance, and it's been running since 1985. The benefit covers up to $9.25 per month off the cost of a qualifying phone, internet, or bundled service plan. That's modest, but many participating carriers use the subsidy to offer a plan that is entirely free after the discount, particularly for basic wireless service.
To qualify, your household income needs to be at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. For 2026, that works out to $21,546 for a single-person household and $44,550 for a family of four. You also automatically qualify if anyone in your household participates in SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or a Veterans Pension. You won't need to submit income documentation if you can show program enrollment instead.
Only one Lifeline benefit is allowed per household, not per person. You can apply through your chosen carrier or directly online at lifelinesupport.org. Residents of Tribal lands get a significantly larger benefit, up to $34.25 per month, and an additional one-time connection fee assistance through the related Link Up program.
Assurance Wireless (T-Mobile network)
Assurance Wireless is one of the most widely used Lifeline carriers in the country. It runs on T-Mobile's 4G/5G network and is available in most states. Eligible customers can get free talk, text, and high-speed data through the Lifeline program, with no monthly charge. A basic smartphone is typically included at no cost when you enroll.
Qualification follows the standard Lifeline rules: SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or an income at or below 135% of the federal poverty level. The application is online and typically takes about 10 minutes. You'll need to upload proof of your qualifying program or income documentation. Coverage varies by state, so it's worth checking availability for your address before you apply.
Note that Assurance Wireless is a Lifeline provider, so if you're already receiving Lifeline service through another carrier, you'd need to transfer your benefit rather than add a second line. The one-per-household rule applies regardless of which carrier you're on.
Xfinity Internet Essentials (home internet with phone options)
If you have Xfinity available at your address and need home internet rather than a mobile plan, Xfinity's Internet Essentials program starts at $14.95 per month for speeds up to 75 Mbps. A step-up plan at $29.95 per month gets you 100 Mbps. Both tiers include free equipment and no cancellation fees. For a household with multiple devices or kids doing schoolwork, this is one of the cheaper home internet options available anywhere.
Eligibility requires participation in a qualifying assistance program such as SNAP, Medicaid, the National School Lunch Program, or public housing assistance. Household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level also qualifies. You cannot have had Xfinity service within the last 90 days, and you can't have an outstanding Comcast debt less than a year old. The program does not combine with the federal Lifeline discount.
You can apply online at internetessentials.com or by calling 1-855-846-8376. Eligible participants also have the option to purchase a discounted Dell laptop for $149.99, which isn't free but is well below retail price for a household that needs a computer for job applications or schoolwork.
Access from AT&T
AT&T runs its own low-income internet program called Access, which provides home internet service starting at $30 per month for eligible households. In some areas where only slower DSL speeds are available, the price drops to $15 per month. The plan includes free installation, a Wi-Fi gateway, no annual contract, and no deposit.
AT&T's service footprint covers 21 states, mostly in the South and Midwest. If AT&T fiber is available at your address, that $30 plan can deliver speeds up to 100 Mbps. Qualification requires either SNAP enrollment, the National School Lunch Program, or a household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Unlike Xfinity Internet Essentials, AT&T Access can be combined with the Lifeline discount, which would knock up to $9.25 off that monthly bill.
One practical limitation: AT&T fixed wireless and AT&T Internet Air service are not eligible for the Access discount. It applies only to AT&T's wired internet service. Check availability at your address before counting on this option.
What happened to the Affordable Connectivity Program
If you've looked into this before and heard about a program that covered $30 a month toward internet service, that was the Affordable Connectivity Program, and it ended on June 1, 2024. Congress did not renew its $14.2 billion in funding. At its peak, the ACP served over 23 million households. When it ended, an estimated 5 million of them lost internet access entirely.
As of 2026, no federal replacement exists. The programs listed in this article, Lifeline, carrier-specific low-income plans, are what's available right now. Lifeline's maximum discount of $9.25 per month is considerably smaller than what the ACP offered, which is why the carrier-run programs like Xfinity Internet Essentials and AT&T Access have taken on more importance since 2024. They don't require federal enrollment and are not subject to congressional funding decisions.
Several proposals to replace or restore the ACP have been introduced in Congress but none have passed. Staying enrolled in Lifeline and any carrier low-income plan you qualify for remains the most reliable path to affordable connectivity right now.
How to apply for Lifeline in three steps
The fastest path is to go directly to lifelinesupport.org, use the “Do I Qualify” tool to confirm your eligibility, then use the “Companies Near Me” locator to see which carriers participate in your zip code. Not every carrier offers Lifeline service in every state, so checking coverage for your specific address matters.
Once you've chosen a carrier, you can complete the application entirely online in about 10 minutes. You'll need proof of your qualifying program, such as a SNAP benefit letter, Medicaid card, or SSI award letter. If you're qualifying by income instead, you'll need a recent tax return or three consecutive months of pay stubs. You can also call the Lifeline Support Center at 1-800-234-9473 if you prefer help over the phone.
After approval, you'll recertify your eligibility once a year. If you're on a no-cost plan (meaning your carrier charges nothing and the entire cost is covered by the benefit), you'll also need to use your service at least once every 30 days to stay enrolled. Missing a month of use can result in losing the benefit without warning.
Domestic violence survivors have additional options
The Safe Connections Act created a specific Lifeline pathway for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and related crimes. Survivors who pursue a line separation request can qualify for up to six months of emergency Lifeline support with a higher income threshold of 200% of the federal poverty level, which is more generous than the standard 135%.
This matters because many survivors leave a shared account where the abuser is the primary account holder, and losing that line immediately puts them without a phone. The Safe Connections Act also requires mobile carriers to separate phone lines from a shared family plan when a survivor requests it, without penalizing the survivor for breaking a contract. After six months of emergency support, survivors can apply for the standard Lifeline program if they still qualify.
For survivors who don't qualify for the standard program, some states and nonprofits offer additional phone assistance outside the federal system. Dialing 2-1-1 connects you to local social services and is a good starting point for finding what's available in your area.
