01 · Understand your household
People who live together and share income and expenses count as one household. Sharing an address alone does not settle household status.
Understand your phone & internet options
Could your household
qualify for Lifeline?
Check the standard federal eligibility criteria with a few questions. See an estimate, understand the limits, and find the official next step.
Check my eligibility →✓ No contact details✓ No sign-up✓ Official sources
Federal Lifeline eligibility estimate
Start with what you know
This is an educational check, not an application. You can choose Not sure without losing access to official resources.
Independent estimate · not an application
Do not enter your name, phone number, address, Social Security number or documents. Your selections stay in this page and clear when you reload.
Federal standard eligibility only. State benefits and the separate survivor benefit may differ. Final decisions require official verification. USAC source · Source checked 2026-11-01.
Know what this check means
Understand. Check. Verify.
02 · Check a qualifying basis
A listed benefit or household income at or below the federal limit may provide a qualifying basis. Tribal programs have additional conditions.
03 · Confirm with the official program
Only official verification can confirm eligibility. This tool does not check documents, service availability, or provider offers.
Sources & method
See what the estimate uses
Source check: 2026-11-01. This checker compares your selections with USAC’s published standard federal program and income criteria. It does not access government records or the National Verifier. Income estimates pause on 2027-01-01 until the data is reviewed.
Income limits below are annual gross household amounts at 135% of the 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines, as published by USAC.
| Household size | 48 states, D.C. & territories | Alaska | Hawaii |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $21,546 | $26,933 | $24,786 |
| 2 | $29,214 | $36,518 | $33,602 |
| 3 | $36,882 | $46,103 | $42,417 |
| 4 | $44,550 | $55,688 | $51,233 |
| 5 | $52,218 | $65,273 | $60,048 |
| 6 | $59,886 | $74,858 | $68,864 |
| 7 | $67,554 | $84,443 | $77,679 |
| 8 | $75,222 | $94,028 | $86,495 |
| Each additional person | +$7,668 | +$9,585 | +$8,816 |
- USAC: qualifying benefits and income limits ↗
- USAC: household definition and program overview ↗
- USAC: documents for official verification ↗
- USAC: application instructions, including state processes ↗
- USAC: separate survivor benefit ↗
Scope matters
This tool checks standard federal Lifeline criteria. It does not assess extra state programs, the separate survivor benefit, identity verification, or provider availability. A result is not approval or denial.
Before you continue
Is this an official government checker?
No. This is an independent information tool. Use the official links to confirm current eligibility and application instructions.
Do you collect my answers?
The checker runs in your browser, without submitting answers, using cookies, or saving them to local storage. Reloading clears them. Your host and other installed services may process standard visit information.
Does a possible match guarantee a free phone?
No. This estimate concerns eligibility criteria. It does not promise a device, plan, approval, or service availability.
What if I do not match the standard criteria?
This is not an official denial. Review the source guidance, state-specific options, and the separate survivor benefit. You do not need to disclose survivor status here.