How do I get low-income internet?
Your financial level does not restrict your ability to access the internet. Use local low-income internet options if your home needs a boost to overcome the digital gap.
You might save between $9.25 and $29.25 a month with the Lifeline program. Internet provider initiatives that start at $9.95 per month for 100 Mbps download speeds can be combined with federal programs like Lifeline.
Continue reading to find out more about various reasonably priced internet options and how to obtain free internet service.
Do you qualify for low-income internet?
The requirements to be eligible for each of the low-income choices we'll talk about are different. However, if you currently qualify for one or more government assistance programs, or if your household income is less than or equal to 200% of the federal poverty limits, you're a good candidate for most:
Public Housing (HUD), the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Security Income Supplement (SSI)
TANF, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and additional
However, don't panic if you aren't qualified for low-income internet; we have other articles that offer suggestions for affordable home internet service and current internet offers. Enter your zip code below to see internet providers in your area, or look at affordable options like AT&T, Verizon Fios, Cox, and Xfinity.
Where to start with low-income internet?
There are several choices for reasonably priced internet services. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provided qualified households with up to $30 per month of internet service (and up to $75 per month if you live on tribal territories), was once the finest option for low-income internet users. Regretfully, Congress stopped funding this program, and as of February 7, 2024, no one could sign up. The ACP's funding expired in May 2024, and the government internet initiative is no longer in operation.
We advise investigating two inexpensive internet options that have been in place for a little while longer—Lifeline and individual internet provider initiatives—because the ACP is coming to an end.
Low-cost internet through Lifeline and internet providers
The first choice is Lifeline, a government aid program that provides low-income households with $9.25 per month of phone or internet services. Lifeline is better than nothing, but it doesn't offer as much savings as the ACP or most internet provider programs.
Secondly, numerous initiatives by internet providers provide reduced monthly fees. Low-income internet plans from ISPs like Xfinity and Spectrum start at just $9.95 a month. Although the requirements differ by provider, many are for low-income families with children who are eligible for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
ISP low-income programs seem like a great offer at first, but not all homes are eligible. Before choosing an option, find out if you match the prerequisites.
Affordable Connectivity Program
To help low-income households afford internet for work, school, and healthcare requirements, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched the new Affordable Connectivity Program at the end of 2021, replacing the previous Emergency Broadband Benefit program. For eligible homes, it included up to $30 per month for an internet subscription (up to $75 per month for households on tribal grounds).
Do I qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program?
You would probably be eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program if you are currently enrolled in a low-income internet program or federal assistance program. The FCC requires that you or a household member fulfill at least one of the following requirements to be eligible:
Your family's income is 200% of the federal poverty threshold or less.
You take part in federal assistance programs such as Lifeline, SSI, WIC, Medicaid, SNAP, and Federal Public Housing Assistance.
You take part in programs that are exclusive to your tribe, such as Tribal TANF or the Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance.
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is available to you.
For the current award year, you have been awarded a Federal Pell Grant.
You are eligible for the current low-income program offered by your partnering internet provider.
How do I apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program?
Regretfully, the ACP is no longer available for application. According to the FCC, the ACP program is expected to conclude in May 2024, with the deadline for submissions being February 7, 2024.
You will continue to receive your March 2024 ACP online discount if you are currently enrolled in the program. The FCC states that if ISPs accept the ACP, it will give them a partial bill credit for April. However, the FCC anticipates that the ACP will completely shut down after May.
Cheap Wi-Fi for low-income homes
Low-income internet plans are available from many ISPs and provide excellent substitutes for the ACP. These plans usually give 50–100 Mbps download speeds and range from about $10 to $30 per month (but Verizon Fios plans may go as high as $50).
Make careful to read below the cut to determine which plan best meets your needs, as each provider has specific requirements that must be fulfilled.
Most government programs are accepted by Comcast's Internet Essentials (also called Xfinity) to be eligible for low-income Internet.
Enter your zip code below to find out if Xfinity or any of the other carriers listed above offer internet in your area. We don't save your zip code or give it to anybody else since we value your privacy.
Internet Essentials from Xfinity By Comcast
You can enroll in Comcast's low-income Internet Essentials program if you reside in an Xfinity By Comcast service region. For $9.95 a month (plus tax), eligible homes can access free in-home Wi-Fi and 50 Mbps download speeds. Additionally, you will be able to use Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots and have the opportunity to buy a cheap computer.
A household member must be enrolled in one of the following programs to be eligible for Internet Essentials: Pell Grant, NSLP, HUD, veteran government aid, or senior government assistance. To apply, visit InternetEssentials.com.
Access from AT&T
For $30 a month, AT&T Access provides download speeds of up to 100 Mbps.
If you are enrolled in SNAP, SSI, or the National School Lunch program, you may be eligible for AT&T Access. Additionally, homes that fall within 200% of the federal poverty standards are accepted by AT&T. If you're unsure if you qualify, the application website has a useful chart.
Spectrum Internet Assist low-income Internet program.
One of the few that assists households without K–12 children, Spectrum's low-income internet program is more expensive than the majority of others on our list. It also contributes a lot more.
Offering 50 Mbps broadband speeds and a complimentary internet modem with extra Wi-Fi service for $5 per month (internet providers often charge $10 per month for Wi-Fi routers), Spectrum Internet Assist is a reliable service. Additionally, you won't have to worry about contracts or data caps.
Therefore, you can apply for Spectrum Internet Assist if one or more members of your family receive Supplemental Security Income, the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), or the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the NSLP.
Astound Broadband’s Internet First
For low-income families and students, Astound Broadband, provided by RCN, Wave, and Grande, provides Internet First. You can acquire internet access for just $9.95 a month—and your first 60 days are free—if your home participates in any of the many public assistance programs that Internet First offers that qualify.
Optimum Advantage Internet
Optimum offers their Optimum Advantage Internet plan, where eligible customers can get up to 50 Mbps internet speeds plus free installation, a free router, and no data caps for $14.99 per month.
To be eligible for the Optimum Advantage Internet plan, you or someone in your household must qualify for or participate in NSLP, veteran government assistance, senior government assistance, or are a New York City resident attending a New York City public school. Click here to apply.
Verizon Fios Lifeline
Verizon increases the discount you would typically receive from the government-sponsored Lifeline Discount Program rather than introducing a new internet package, as many other businesses do.
Every month, Lifeline, which we go over in greater detail below, gives $9.25 off an Internet subscription. This is further reduced by Verizon Fios's additional discount, which makes its basic package free.
The fastest speeds on our list are available with Verizon Fios's package. You can easily hold video calls while other family members are online with speeds this quick, which is useful if you work from home.
Affordable Internet for Families, Students, and Seniors
Free internet for low-income families and households
Many low-income internet programs demand that you have a school-age child at home since they concentrate on connecting students to useful online resources.
There are additional methods to be eligible for low-income internet access if you don't have any children of school age. Comcast offers Internet Essentials and Spectrum Internet Assist to everyone who receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Free internet for K–12 students
If you have children at home and are enrolled in Public Housing (HUD), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), you have access to more internet-saving choices.
Free internet for college students
Investigate free public Wi-Fi hotspots and internet services with complimentary trial periods if you're a college student. For a more thorough examination of these choices, see our article "Cheap and Free Internet for Students."
Additionally, with proof from your financial aid office, you might be eligible for Comcast's Internet Essentials if you're a community college student in Colorado or Illinois.
Finally, internet service providers occasionally give students discounts. To find out what's currently available, check out this month's deals.
Free internet for senior citizens
Access from AT&T, Optimum Advantage Internet, Spectrum Internet Assist, Verizon Fios Lifeline, and Internet Essentials from Comcast all offer reasonably priced internet if you are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Enter your zip code below to see which of these providers is available in your area:
Lifeline FCC internet subsidy for free government internet service
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is a government agency that sponsors Lifeline. For people who live on tribal grounds, participate in federal assistance programs, or are close to or below the federal poverty threshold, it directly collaborates with internet providers to develop reduced monthly prices.
You can receive a $9.25 monthly discount on phone or internet service if your household income is less than or equal to 135% of the federal poverty limit or if you are enrolled in federal assistance programs. For further information, visit Lifeline's qualifying page.
Additionally, you can save an additional $34.25 a month on the Internet if you reside on tribal lands.
You can even use Lifeline repeatedly on your internet service if you live with others but do not share money.
You can stack up the discounts for each qualifying person if they are not regarded as part of your home by Lifeline regulations. The people you live with must also qualify according to federal assistance programs or poverty requirements.
Are you curious about how the Lifeline discount varies among providers? Look beneath the cut.
After receiving Lifeline help, you may have realized that the ultimate costs are more than those from ISP low-income programs. Don't discount Lifeline, though; it can be very helpful when local providers don't have their programs. If you qualify, Lifeline offers internet connection nationwide, so it's always a possibility.
Are you unsure about which of these suppliers is available in your location? To view your options, enter your zip code.:
If you've determined that the Lifeline program is right for you, you can apply online, by mail, or through a local internet provider.
Get cheap or free government internet service today
From news to education to staying in touch with loved ones, internet connectivity is essential to our everyday lives. We can all stay connected with the support of the Lifeline program and ISP initiatives. Utilize these initiatives to obtain a high-speed internet connection at a cost that is affordable for your family.
