Eligibility checker

Check what you may qualify for

Answer a few questions. The estimate stays on this device. It is not an application, and it is not a decision from an agency.

State

People in the household

For Lifeline, a household is people who live together and share income and expenses.

Does anyone in the household have one of these?

Select all that apply. Leave them blank if none apply.

SNAP (food assistance) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, including state names such as CalFresh or Food Assistance. Medicaid Full Medicaid for anyone in the household. A marketplace plan with a subsidy is not Medicaid. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) SSI, not Social Security retirement or SSDI by itself. WIC Women, Infants, and Children. Useful for some store offers. It does not, by itself, qualify a household for federal Lifeline. Federal Public Housing Assistance Includes public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), and some other federal housing aid. Veterans Pension or Survivors Benefit VA pension or survivors pension. VA health care or disability compensation alone is a different benefit.

Gross monthly household income, before taxes Skip income. I only want to use the programs above.

The income test is 135% of the 2026 federal poverty guidelines. Source: HHS.

Rules this page uses

Federal Lifeline may be available when household income is at or below 135% of the poverty guidelines, or when someone has SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or Veterans Pension or Survivors Benefit.

WIC is listed because some shopping offers accept it. WIC alone does not qualify a household for federal Lifeline.

Outside California, describe Lifeline as free monthly service with a phone you already have or a SIM. California LifeLine can be different. See the Lifeline page.

We never ask for an EBT card number or PIN.

About this checker

Which programs count for federal Lifeline?

On this checker, SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, and Veterans Pension or Survivors Benefit are treated as federal Lifeline qualifying programs. WIC is included because some shopping offers use it, but WIC alone does not qualify a household for federal Lifeline.

What income level is used?

The income test on this page is 135% of the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines. Alaska and Hawaii use their own guideline amounts. Enter gross monthly income for the household. The result is an estimate, not an award.

Are my answers stored?

No. The checker runs on your phone or computer. BenefitBoost does not receive the state, income, or programs you select.