There is a program out for a few months that everyone should know about. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) replaced the Emergency Broadband benefit program at the end of 2021. This connectivity services connection program is available to help people get internet services. Families can receive up to $30/month to help pay for Internet services. The program offers a one-time discount of $100 to help people purchase a laptop, desktop, or tablet computer through a participating provider. The ACP program includes 14 billion dollars to assist eligible households with this monthly discount for internet services.

A household (a group of people who live together and share income and expenses even if they are not related to each other), must be earning 200% of the federal poverty level or less per year, or meet specific criteria.

If you earn more than 200% of the poverty level you can quality if you:

1) have received a federal pell grant this year,

2) meet the eligibility criteria for participating providers for internet programs,

3) participate in the national school lunch program, SNAP, Medicaid, Federal public housing assistance, supplemental security income (SSI), WIC, Veterans pension or survivor benefits or the LifeLine telephone discount benefit,

4) participate in assistance programs AND live on qualifying tribal lands like Tribal TANF, food distribution, tribal head start or Bureau of Indian Affairs general assistance.

Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or directly with the Website AffordableConnectivity.gov to submit an application or print a mail-in application. Several local internet providers are on the list. Check it out it may be worthwhile and help you pay for internet and connectivity costs.

NY Connects can tell you about help in the home and programs and services. There are NY Connects programs located with the Office for Aging Services (OFAS) and the Southwestern Independent Living Center (SILC). You can reach NY Connects by phone: at 716-753-4582 or 800-342-9871 email: ccnyc@chqgov.com Southwestern Independent Living NY Connects at 716-661-3010 or 716-490-7561. There is an online resource tool called the NY Connects Resource directory as well at www.nyconnects.ny.gov. Nationwide the ElderCare Locator can assist you in finding the aging and disability resource center in any part of the United States. You can call the ElderCare Locator at 1-800-677-116 or on the internet at www.eldercare.acl.gov