Question: I have been told there is help to pay for my phone, but what about my internet service?

Answer: Well your question got me doing a little research and I am learning a lot! I have worked with phone discounts for many years called “Lifeline”. I will explain the benefits for those that don’t understand what the Lifeline Discount program is.

Lifeline is a monthly discount on your phone service of $9.25 per month (more if you live on Tribal lands). This discount can apply regardless of how you receive your phone service, traditional landline, cell phone or through broadband (cable).

To receive this Lifeline discount you must be considered low-income or receiving benefits such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Supplemental Security Income, and Veteran and Survivors Pension Benefit.

You will be required to recertify your eligibility each year for the Lifeline benefit.

To qualify your income must be at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guideline. That is $19,683 for a household of one, $26,622 for a household of two, and continues to go up based on those in the household. If figuring your income monthly helps, that is $1640 for a household of one, and $2218 for a household of two. If you make more, but are eligible for any of the benefits listed above, you can use your award letter or approval letter to verify your eligibility for the Lifeline.

You can apply for Lifeline three ways, the internet at fcc.gov/acp the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) website, or by contacting your phone or internet provider for help with submitting the application or via mail with a printed Lifeline Application. To call with questions you can call the Lifeline Support Center at 800-234-9473.

There is a similar program for Internet services called the Affordable Connectivity Program. This discount provides up to $30 per month towards internet service for your household (more if you live on Tribal Lands). This benefit also includes a one-time discount of up to $100 towards the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer or tablet.

This discount on the internet service is available from a wide variety of venders both well known to us from TV commercials and some names I didn’t recognize. The eligibility standard for the Affordable Connectivity Program is 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, which comes out to $29160 for a one person household, $39,440 for a two person household, with additional amounts for additional household members. That is $2430 per month for one person, $3286 per month for two people. To prove eligibility you can use award letters like the Lifeline Discount and those approved benefits, also receiving a Federal Pell Grant in the current year, Free and Reduced Price School Lunch, WIC, or an already awarded Lifeline discount.

This program also has three ways to apply, online at www.fcc.gov , or with a paper application you can get from the website and mail back or by calling your internet provider and asking for help with the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

The website listed over 100 possible providers for internet in our area. I have no idea there were that many. I was also really excited to learn about this discount, since we are all trying to stretch our dollars farther. Any discount is a useful discount, $9 for one and $30 for the other adds up over time.

So glad you asked this question because I learned some useful information also!

Senior Life Matters is a community based program sponsored by Lutheran Jamestown. For questions, concerns or to reach Janell Sluga, GCMC, call 716-720-9797 or email SLM@lutheran-jamestown.org.